Sunday, July 6, 2025 7/6/2025

Engineering the Immune Response of a Self-replicating and Adjuvanting RNA HIV-1Vaccine

Award Number: R33AI161811
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/09/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Engineering the Immune Response of a Self-replicating and Adjuvanting RNA HIV-1Vaccine - Project Summary/Abstract A key requirement for HIV-1 vaccine development is the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) targeting the HIV-1 envelope (Env) spike. The BG505 SOSIP.664 gp140 soluble timer is engineered to display conformational epitopes recognized by several bNAbs but not non-neutralizing antibodies. The prototype SOSIP vaccine is currently being evaluated in two clinical trials. An effective messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine expressing BG505 SOSIP.664 will complement the clinical vaccine and open a path to heterologous immunization strategies to elicit immune responses defined by increased breadth and magnitude. Recent achievements in mRNA vaccines is a result of advancements in nanoparticle delivery technologies. We recently reported immunogenicity of a replicating RNA (repRNA) vaccine encoding the spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV- 2; this vaccine, delivered with a novel Lipid Inorganic Nanoparticle (LION) carrier, induced potent binding and neutralizing antibodies in both mice and non-human primates. In the proposed R61/R33 application, we will investigate and optimize attributes of the LION formulation to engineer the immunity of a BG505 SOSIP.664 expressing repRNA vaccine (repRNA-SOSIP.664). The goal is to identify a lead vaccine and administration route that promotes B cell differentiation and maturation needed for induction of high affinity Env antibodies that confer protection in a macaque SHIV challenge model. The proposed work will be performed with a three-way collaboration between Dr. Amit Khandhar at HDT Bio, Dr. Noah Sather at Seattle Children’s Research Institute (SCRI) and Prof. Deborah Fuller at the University of Washington (UW). Proposed activities in the R61 phase will include (specific aim 1) optimizing the repRNA/LION platform for intramuscular (IM), intradermal (ID) and intranasal (IN) delivery and (specific aim 2) screening immunogenicity of vaccine candidates in mouse and rabbit models. In the R33 phase, we will advance (specific aim 3) one or more lead vaccine candidates to evaluate protective efficacy in a macaque SHIV challenge model. Milestones in the R61 phase are (milestone 1) identification of formulations that target lymph nodes or remain at injection site, (milestone 2) develop an optimized LION formulation for intranasal delivery of repRNA, (milestone 3) one or more repRNA/LION immunization regimens that induce neutralizing antibodies greater than or equal to the BG505 SOSIP.664 protein/adjuvant vaccine. Using clearly defined go/no-go metrics for each milestone we will determine transition to the R33 phase of the project. Milestones in the R33 phase are (milestone 1) one or more vaccine regiment affords statistically significant protection compared to controls in a macaque SHIV challenge model as measured by one or more protection measures and (milestone 2) one or more immune responses in vaccinated animals correlate with one or more protection measure.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $1,014,079 )
2025	2025	HDT BIO CORP	1150 EASTLAKE AVE E STE 200A	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	5	5/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$981,683
2025	2024	HDT BIO CORP	1150 EASTLAKE AVE E STE 200A	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	4/23/2025	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$32,396
														Subtotal = $1,014,079

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $949,521 )
2024	2024	HDT BIO CORP	1150 EASTLAKE AVE E STE 200A	SEATTLE	WA	98109	KING	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	5/6/2024	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$949,521
														Subtotal = $949,521

Grand Total All Awards = $1,963,600

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Engineering the Immune Response of a Self-replicating and Adjuvanting RNA HIV-1Vaccine

Award Number: R33AI161811

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/09/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer