Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded $192,500 to the Regents of the University of Minnesota under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on April 9, 2026, for a project period extending through March 31, 2028. This R21 exploratory grant supports the development of broadly protective vaccines against Lassa virus (LASV), a rodent-borne hemorrhagic fever pathogen endemic to West Africa with an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 annual infections and approximately 5,000 deaths. The project leverages the Pichinde virus (PICV) vector platform, a non-pathogenic arenavirus engineered with a tri-segmented RNA genome capable of expressing multiple antigens to generate balanced antibody and T-cell immune responses against various Lassa virus lineages.

The research addresses a critical public health gap, as no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics currently exist for Lassa fever despite its significant disease burden and pandemic potential. The deliverable from this funding consists of preclinical vaccine development research utilizing the recombinant RP18TRI vector system to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of achieving broad protection across genetically diverse Lassa virus strains. Results from this exploratory phase are intended to establish the scientific foundation and technical feasibility required for subsequent vaccine advancement and clinical development efforts targeting this understudied but epidemiologically significant viral threat.