Federal Grant Award Summary

Cornell University's Office of Sponsored Programs received a $653,742 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded April 7, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. The award supports research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of maternal antibody interference with oral rotavirus vaccination, a critical barrier to vaccine efficacy in neonatal populations, particularly in low-middle income countries. The project leverages a newly developed mouse model of maternal antibody interference combined with human clinical samples to identify the cellular types and biophysical antibody features responsible for vaccine clearance and reduced seroconversion in vaccinated infants.

The research deliverables include mechanistic evaluation using transgenic mouse models and recombinant monoclonal antibody technology to characterize vaccine interference pathways, comprehensive biophysical and functional analysis of rotavirus-specific maternal antibodies from bio-banked human samples, and validation data comparing naturally infected mothers and their vaccinated infants. Findings from this investigation are expected to advance scientific understanding of maternal antibody-mediated vaccine interference and generate knowledge applicable to improving vaccination strategies in populations with elevated maternal antibody levels, directly supporting NIAID's mission to enhance public health outcomes related to infectious diseases.