# Broad-based spike protein stalk-based vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses

> **NIH NIH R21** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $196,250

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
We propose to develop a subunit vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, using a structure-based approach targeting
conserved and functionally essential domains in the stalk region of the viral spike protein. We expect our vaccine
platform to be applicable and effective across a wide range of existing and emerging coronaviruses. As our
system is based on expression in E. coli is it expected to be cost–effective, and our stalk-based approach is
specifically designed to cover a range of distinct coronaviruses. However, it is important to note that our vaccine
platform is highly flexible, with the antigen able to be re-engineered rapidly in the face of a novel coronavirus that
may emerge, and for which the vaccine developed in this application is not effective.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10363311
- **Project number:** 1R21AI166840-01
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gary R Whittaker
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $196,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10363311

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10363311, Broad-based spike protein stalk-based vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses (1R21AI166840-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10363311. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*