Project Grant R21AI199395

Grant Award Summary

Oregon Health & Science University received a $441,500 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) awarded June 22, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. The award funds the development of a novel virus-based vaccine platform targeting malaria, a disease responsible for approximately 250 million annual cases and 600,000 deaths worldwide. The research will create a heterologous vesicular stomatitis virus prime-virus-like vesicle boost vaccine regimen designed to generate protective cellular and humoral immune responses against multiple malaria parasite antigens across different lifecycle stages, addressing limitations of currently approved vaccines that provide incomplete immunity and require multiple doses and boosters.

The project delivers research and development services focused on advancing malaria vaccine technology through a multi-stage immunological approach targeting both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax parasites. Specifically, the research will employ strategies to target immune responses to the liver and leverage DNA or mRNA platforms to increase vaccine flexibility and deliverability, with the goal of achieving protection through a one- or two-dose regimen. This foundational preclinical research is designed to generate sufficient evidence to support expanded funding for comprehensive preclinical testing and advancement toward clinical development of a transformative next-generation malaria vaccine.