# Strategies to Improve Influenza Vaccine Efficacy in High-Risk Obese Individuals

> **NIH NIH F31** · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, LLC · 2022 · $30,752

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Vaccination is critical for controlling annual influenza epidemics and pandemics, but vaccines are less effective
in high-risk populations such as people with obesity. After the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, obesity was identified as
an independent high-risk factor for increased influenza disease severity. Work by our lab has shown that obese
hosts are not only more susceptible than non-obese hosts to severe influenza disease but also less protected
by adjuvanted vaccination. These disconcerting differences highlight the immediate need to develop influenza
vaccines that better protect this high-risk group as global obesity rates rise steadily. Our laboratory is using
established mouse models of obesity, induced either genetically or by diet, to address this need by investigating
strategies to improve vaccine efficacy in obese hosts. We have preliminary data showing that we can rescue the
decreased vaccine efficacy in our obese mice by introducing a weight loss intervention 4-weeks before
vaccination. This proposal will 1) define the weight-loss “window” required for vaccine efficacy and 2) assess the
changes in humoral responses that correlate with vaccine efficacy. This proposal will evaluate the mechanisms
behind the increased vaccine efficacy associated with weight loss before immunization. If these mechanisms
can be elucidated, adjuvants can be designed to target the same pathways to overcome the problems with the
standard of care vaccines. The results of this research will have substantial translational implications for
improving vaccine efficacy for other infectious diseases to protect our high-risk populations better and improve
public health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10538103
- **Project number:** 1F31AI172424-01
- **Recipient organization:** ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Kristin Wiggins
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $30,752
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10538103

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10538103, Strategies to Improve Influenza Vaccine Efficacy in High-Risk Obese Individuals (1F31AI172424-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10538103. Licensed CC0.

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