Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $159,300 Project Grant on April 2, 2026, to the La Jolla Institute for Immunology to investigate human upper airway immune memory kinetics and durability against respiratory pathogens under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The research project, which will conclude on March 31, 2031, develops and applies novel methodologies for longitudinal sampling of upper airway immune cell populations using nasal cavity swabs, combined with advanced analytical techniques including multiparametric flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. The institute will characterize upper airway resident memory B and T cell populations, including pathogen-specific memory cells, to elucidate the immunologic requirements for generating and maintaining durable mucosal immunity.

The primary deliverable is scientific knowledge regarding whether local antigen exposure is necessary for developing robust upper airway immune memory, and whether intramuscular immunization alone can elicit upper airway immunity despite generating circulating immunity. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding mucosal immunology and has direct applications to next-generation vaccine development, particularly vaccines designed to generate protective mucosal immune responses. The findings will contribute to the broader scientific understanding of respiratory pathogen immunity and inform vaccine optimization strategies.