UTMB Awarded a $15.6 Million/year NIH Grant for Three Years of Vaccine Development with Partners

The University of Texas Medical Branch recently received a three-year award of $15.6 million per year from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct cutting-edge research aimed at developing vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to combat high-priority viral pathogens.

"The center will be instrumental in developing innovative vaccines and therapeutics against global emerging viral threats. Our team is excited to leverage our expertise and collaborate with industry partners to advance this vital research," said Dr. Thomas Geisbert, Professor at the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at UTMB. "Along with Dr. Christopher Broder at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, we are honored to lead this critical initiative in pandemic preparedness."

UTMB was selected as a recipient of a Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) Center grant. The ReVAMPP Center grant totals $46,404,982 for the initial three-year period from July 30, 2024, through June 30, 2027 (~$15.6M annually), with a potential funded extension of approximately $15.6M per year for up to an additional two years. The center will focus on three major viral families: Arenaviridae, Nairoviridae, and Paramyxoviridae are known for their potential to cause severe outbreaks and pandemics, presenting a significant threat to global public health.

"The funding will allow us to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in infectious disease research," said Geisbert. "By developing novel vaccine platforms and antibody therapies, we aim to make significant strides in preventing and controlling outbreaks of high-priority pathogens."

The grant will address the urgent need for effective countermeasures against these viral threats through the following specific aims:

Development and Testing of MNP Vaccines: The center will explore the creation of subunit viral antigen vaccines delivered via an adjuvanted dissolvable microneedle patch (MNP). This innovative approach will be applied to prototype viruses within the Bunyavirales and Paramyxoviridae families, including Lassa, Machupo, Nipah, and Hendra viruses.

Creation of New Tools and Animal Models: New high-containment and low-containment animal models will be developed to support research into viral pathogenesis and the efficacy of therapeutics. Advanced reverse genetics and recombinant pseudoviruses will be utilized to facilitate these studies.

Development of Antibodies and Nanobodies: The center will focus on generating new human monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies to target selected prototype viruses. This includes leveraging samples from Nipah virus infection survivors and utilizing transgenic mice models.

Quality System Data Management: A robust quality system will be implemented to ensure the integrity and reliability of research data and preclinical evaluations.

UTMB will collaborate with a network of esteemed institutions and industry leaders through subawards to advance the ReVAMPP Center's goals. The collaborative network includes:

• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
• The University of Pittsburgh
• The University of Maryland
• Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc.
• Genovac Antibody Discovery, LLC
• Washington State University
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Georgia State University
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

"This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing innovative solutions for public health threats," said Broder. "Together, we and our collaborating team of scientists aim to accelerate the development of effective countermeasures and enhance global preparedness for potential pandemics."

"We are deeply grateful to the NIH for their generous support," Dr. Geisbert added. "This grant empowers us to push the boundaries of science and accelerate our progress in developing critical vaccines and treatments. We look forward to bringing this project to fruition and continuing our fight against emerging global diseases."