Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Johns Hopkins University a Project Grant of $766,437 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. This five-year research initiative will analyze vaccine-induced B cell responses, T cell responses, and innate immune responses associated with protection against dengue virus (DENV) infection. The research will examine immune responses from vaccines tested in controlled human infection models, with particular focus on understanding how vaccine serotype composition impacts the specificity, function, and durability of serotype-specific memory B cell and monoclonal antibody responses, as well as subsequent responses to DENV serotype 2 challenge.

The project addresses the global public health threat posed by dengue, which affects approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide and is endemic in more than 100 countries. By characterizing protective immune mechanisms across the four DENV serotypes, this research will provide critical scientific knowledge to inform the development of balanced dengue vaccines capable of preventing severe disease. The work will be conducted at Johns Hopkins' Baltimore, Maryland facility and is expected to generate peer-reviewed research findings, immunological data, and mechanistic insights applicable to vaccine development and evaluation strategies.