Project Grant R21AI151824

This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases supports the development of a novel plant-based source for squalene as a natural vaccine adjuvant. The $514,006 award to Synshark LLC supports research to engineer tobacco plants to stably produce and accumulate squalene on their leaves. This work directly relates to the commercialization plan to provide a non-animal, indoor grown natural adjuvant for vaccines. Currently, squalene used in vaccines is...

Cooperative Agreement Summary Boston Children's Hospital, in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), received a cooperative agreement award of $1.67 million on September 25, 2025, to conduct a Phase 1 clinical study evaluating a novel messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine incorporating controlled biodistribution technology and interleukin-12...

This Project Grant award from the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.395 - Cancer Treatment Research) provides $630,781 to The Johns Hopkins University to develop lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and microgel formulations capable of programming Th1/Th2 immune responses for cancer immunotherapy. The key objectives are to: (1) develop mRNA LNP formulations that can elicit dual or biased Th1 and/or Th2 immune responses using machine learning-guided screening; (2) engineer...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program totaling $256,000 will develop Recombinant BCG as a novel immunoadjuvant for viral infections. The awardee, Oncosting LLC located in Baltimore, Maryland, will optimize media and lyophilization manufacturing of BCG-STING, evaluate its immunological effects as an adjuvant for H1N1 influenza vaccination, and assess its protective effects as an H1N1 vaccine adjuvant. By adding stimulator of...

Federal Grant Award Summary The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a Project Grant of $454,278 to The University of Kentucky Research Foundation on August 15, 2025, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The project, entitled "Adjuvanted Intranasal Influenza Vaccine to Generate Lung Resident-Memory T Cells," will develop and evaluate a novel influenza vaccine formulation designed to provide broadly cross-reactive and...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award of $274,947 to Lattice Therapeutics Inc. supports the development of a customizable, next-generation RNA delivery particle. The project aims to validate the ability of an engineerable protein nanoparticle platform to efficiently and specifically deliver RNA cargoes to target cancer cells. Key objectives include in vitro evaluation of RNA...

Federal Grant Award Summary Via Therapeutics, LLC received a $314,363 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective September 11, 2025, with a completion date of August 31, 2026. The award supports the development of a microneedle-based messenger RNA (mRNA) flu vaccine designed for transcutaneous (intradermal) immunization. Via Therapeutics will leverage its...

Grant Award Summary New York University was awarded $437,477 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on June 17, 2025, for development of a human lymph node-on-a-chip microphysiological system. The project, scheduled for completion by May 31, 2027, addresses a critical gap in vaccine development by creating an in vitro model that accurately replicates the structural and functional characteristics of...

The Flavivirus and Alphavirus REVAMPP (FLARE) Center, funded by a $46,715,173 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (CFDA 93.855 Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research), is developing and optimizing protein nanoparticle, virion-based, and mRNA vaccine platforms, as well as monoclonal antibody-based treatments to rapidly respond to emerging flaviviruses and alphaviruses with pandemic potential. The Center integrates the work of multiple...

Project Grant Award Summary Antigen Discovery Inc. (also operating as Immport Therapeutics Inc.) received a $300,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), with an award date of August 25, 2025, and completion date of July 31, 2027. The project deliverables focus on developing a sensitive and specific serological potency test (PSPT) for whole cell pertussis vaccines to...