# Mechanisms of spontaneous and vaccine mediated hepatitis C virus control to direct rational development of a novel HCV vaccine

> **NIH NIH U19** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $473,349

## Abstract

Scientific Core (Core B) Project Summary
The Scientific Core is designed to successfully recruit and monitor HCV-antibody-negative people who inject
drugs (PWID) for HCV infection and to identify and characterize acute infections and reinfections by testing
sera for HCV RNA and seroconversion with serial ALT and HCV RNA testing. The infrastructure of Core B was
necessary for completion of the first trial of an HCV vaccine in people at risk of HCV infection and will be useful
in potential future trials of HCV vaccines. Plasma, serum, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be
collected from prior to infection, during infection, and through the time when infection outcome (clearance or
persistence of virus as well as during reinfection. Samples are stored in the repository for use in Projects 1-4,
as well as for other HCV investigators. Core B will also provide standardized serological testing to quantitate
HCV envelope-specific antibodies in plasma or serum of humans or vaccinated animals. Quantitative analyses
of vaccine-induced plasma or serum antibody responses are essential to identify the most promising vaccine
candidates. By applying a standardized set of assays to samples post-vaccination and from humans who
successfully cleared multiple HCV infections, we will be able to make quantitative and qualitative comparisons
between vaccine-induced antibody responses in mice or nonhuman primates (Projects 3 and 5) and human
responses that are protective against HCV in vivo (Project 2). This will facilitate identification the vaccines most
likely to be protective when advanced to human trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10398149
- **Project number:** 5U19AI159822-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREA L COX
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $473,349
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10398149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10398149, Mechanisms of spontaneous and vaccine mediated hepatitis C virus control to direct rational development of a novel HCV vaccine (5U19AI159822-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10398149. Licensed CC0.

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