# Project-002

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2022 · $270,527

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2) pandemic has so far infected greater than 65 million
individuals and resulted in almost 850,000 deaths in the US. Although it has been suggested that
adaptive immunity plays an important role in improving clinical outcomes of patients infected with
SARS2, correlates of protective immune responses have not been defined. Also, an explanation for the
variability in clinical disease and outcome in patients with SARS2 infection has not been explained
based on qualitative and quantitative antiviral immune responses. Studies in immunocompromised
adults have shown somewhat decreased efficacy of SARS2 mRNA vaccines and increased rates of
breakthrough infections. A significant proportion of children with deficits in immune competence
secondary to cancer chemotherapy and hematologic disorders were observed to have blunted antiviral
antibody responses following SARS2 infection and shed virus for prolonged periods of time (>6 weeks)
in the upper respiratory tract. Together, these findings raise the possibility that children with specific
qualitative or quantitative deficits in adaptive immunity may generate somewhat blunted or decreased
immune responses to SARS2 vaccines. The safety and immunogenicity of SARS2 mRNA vaccine in
young children especially those with compromised immune responses have not been examined. The
objective of the proposed study is to define quantitative and qualitative antiviral antibody responses and
T cell immunity responses generated following SARS2 mRNA vaccination in a cohort of children with
varying levels immune responsiveness and compare those with age-match healthy children. Defining
relationships between variations in immune competence and vaccine-mediated protection could provide
a novel insight into the level and nature of adaptive immunity that can produce robust immune
responses to SARS2 mRNA vaccine. Our studies will also determine the safety of SARS2 mRNA
vaccine in children with impaired immunity and in a group of healthy children. Analysis of the quality and
quantity of SARS2 antibody and T cell responses to the mRNA vaccine will help develop vaccine
candidates or adapt existing vaccines to provide effective protection. In addition, the proposed studies
will also examine the durability of vaccine-mediated immunity and the need for additional doses that can
protect this vulnerable group of children.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10707772
- **Project number:** 3U01CA260462-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Suresh B Boppana
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $270,527
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-22 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10707772

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10707772, Project-002 (3U01CA260462-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10707772. Licensed CC0.

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