Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Seattle Children's Research Institute received a $862,347 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective February 20, 2026, through January 31, 2031. The grant funds research investigating the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination and preterm delivery on maternal RSV-specific peripheral and mucosal immunity. The primary deliverables include research findings on how a recently licensed bivalent RSV vaccine formulated as recombinant pre-fusion glycoprotein affects both transplacental IgG transfer and breastmilk-derived immunity, including RSV-specific IgA and mucosal memory T cells.

The research addresses a critical knowledge gap by characterizing how maternal RSV vaccination influences breastmilk immunity and its protective mechanisms for infants under six months of age—a population experiencing significant RSV-related morbidity and mortality. The project will generate scientific data demonstrating whether breastmilk-derived adaptive immunity provides functionally distinct mucosal protection beyond passive IgG transfer, with implications for optimizing maternal RSV vaccination strategies in both the United States and globally. Findings will contribute to enhanced understanding of vaccine efficacy and inform clinical recommendations for protecting vulnerable preterm and young infant populations.