# Development of standardized immunoassays and virus panels for HCV vaccine research

> **NIH NIH R24** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $567,950

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Given the ongoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) pandemic, HCV vaccine development is an urgent priority.
Despite the extraordinary genetic diversity of the virus, some antibodies are broadly neutralizing, meaning that
these antibodies are able to block infection by genetically diverse HCV isolates. Stimulation of broadly
neutralizing antibodies is likely to be a major component of a protective HCV vaccine, so accurate and
standardized measurement of antibody titers and neutralization breadth is key to accelerating HCV vaccine
development. However, there is currently no standard assay or panel of HCV envelope proteins or viruses used
to measure antibody titers or neutralization.
 We propose here to develop pure HCV antigens and a standardized immunoassay for quantification of
anti-HCV antibody responses to vaccination, and to develop a standardized HCV neutralization panel with
genetically and phenotypically diverse viruses for quantification of neutralizing antibody responses to
vaccination. These reference panels could be adopted as a standard for measurement of antibody titers and
neutralizing breadth, which would allow meaningful comparisons of results obtained in different laboratories,
and more rapid advancement of HCV vaccine development.
 Development of an HCV vaccine is an urgent priority. Accurate and standardized measurement of the
titers, neutralizing potency and breadth of antibodies using diverse HCV isolates is key to evaluating HCV
vaccine candidates and comparing results obtained in different laboratories. By generation of pure HCV antigens,
a standardized immunoassay, and a standardized neutralization panel, we will facilitate accurate, reproducible
measurements of antibody responses, and accelerate HCV vaccine development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10172194
- **Project number:** 1R24AI158193-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Justin Richard Bailey
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $567,950
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-23 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10172194

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10172194, Development of standardized immunoassays and virus panels for HCV vaccine research (1R24AI158193-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10172194. Licensed CC0.

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