Project Grant K01AI200007

The University of Washington was awarded $189,000 in Project Grant funding beginning June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031, under the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The research deliverables focus on characterizing Interleukin-15 (IL-15) signaling networks in nonhuman primates to enhance vaccine efficacy, specifically examining how IL-15 mediates protective immune responses to a cytomegalovirus vector-based vaccine candidate. The research will produce comprehensive scientific knowledge regarding IL-15-associated transcriptional networks and chromatin accessibility changes in myeloid and lymphoid cells, including monocytes, natural killer cells, and CD8+ T-cells.

The project will deliver integrated multiomics data and analyses linking IL-15 signal transduction pathways to vaccine protection outcomes in rhesus macaques. Key deliverables include cell-specific transcriptional network definitions, characterization of IL-15 signal transduction pathway engagement across cell populations, and identification of critical signaling networks associated with vaccine protection through combined in vitro and in vivo data integration. These research outputs are intended to address a significant knowledge gap in understanding IL-15 signaling mechanisms and their connection to whole blood transcriptional signatures and vaccine efficacy, with potential applications for improving immunotherapeutic vaccine development strategies.