# Development of a pan-betacoronavirus vaccine

> **NIH NIH P01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $626,637

## Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represents an exceptional public health crisis highlighting the need for better
understanding of the mechanisms controlling broadly protective immune responses and generating vaccine
candidates able to elicit such responses. The program project entitled “Programming Long-lasting Immunity
to Coronaviruses (PLUTO)” proposes a comprehensive research plan towards designing pan-sarbecovirus
and pan-betacoronavirus vaccines with broad protection by applying in-depth B cell characterization in the
context of coronavirus immune histories imprinted by successive vaccinations and/or infections. Two
complementary research projects will establish correlates of robust, durable and protective coronavirus
humoral immunity (Project 1) as well as design and test efficacy of viral variant-proof pan-sarbecovirus and
pan-betacoronavirus vaccines (Project 2). The Cores will synergize with the two research projects to support
successful completion of research aims and the long-term goal of the project. The Administrative Core will
manage the consortium, coordinate cross-project activities, and create the structure and environment needed
to accomplish PLUTO's goals. The Antibody Core will develop a large panel of recombinant monoclonal
antibodies against coronavirus spike proteins to aid in defining specificity of immune responses elicited by
coronavirus infection and/or vaccination in humans and animal models. The Animal Model Core will provide a
central resource with approvals, facilities, and expertise to assess efficacy of broadly cross-reactive
coronavirus antibodies and vaccines in robust pre- The Research Projects will collaborate with each other
with the support of the services provided by Antibody and Animal Model Cores and overall coordination by
the Administrative Core. Project 2 will focus on the development and design of variant-proof pan-
sarbecovirus vaccines as well as pan-betacoronavirus vaccines clinical models against a spectrum of
coronaviruses, including Select Agents. A multidisciplinary team of scientists from five institutions who have an
outstanding track record of working collaboratively will conduct the proposed studies. The integrated and
synergistic activities across Projects and Cores will drive successful completion of the program project's
ambitious research agenda, enabling achievement of the long-term PLUTO goal of developing viral variant-
proof pan-sarbecovirus and pan-betacoronavirus vaccines. These findings will contribute to curbing the
current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and help to mitigate the risk of future pandemics with coronaviruses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10910985
- **Project number:** 5P01AI172531-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Florian Krammer
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $626,637
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-21 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10910985

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10910985, Development of a pan-betacoronavirus vaccine (5P01AI172531-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10910985. Licensed CC0.

---

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