Project Grant R21AI203583

The Scripps Research Institute received a $276,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. The grant supports the evaluation of HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) constructs fused with C3D molecular adjuvant domains on nanoparticles to assess their structural integrity, functional properties, and capacity to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNAbs). The institute will conduct both in vitro and in vivo analyses using engineered Env-C3D candidates containing two and three copies of C3D domains per glycoprotein subunit, with and without Fc domains, in murine models to evaluate germinal center formation, antigen retention, antibody longevity, cross-neutralizing responses, and epitope targeting.

This research directly addresses the critical public health need for an effective HIV-1 vaccine by building upon prior macaque studies demonstrating successful induction of cross-reactive antibodies against conserved viral epitopes. The findings from this two-year evaluation have broader implications for vaccine design strategies applicable to multiple pathogens, advancing the foundational science necessary to develop improved immunogenic vaccine candidates that can effectively prime and boost immune responses against HIV-1 and potentially other infectious diseases.