EMORY UNIVERSITY
Grant: $1,280,745 - National Institutes of Health - Sep. 1, 2009
No votes have been cast for this award yet
Join the conversation: Post a comment about this award
Award Description: The overall goal of our current U19 grant is to understand how a successful vaccine, the live yellow fever virus (YFV-17D) vaccine, induces long-term immunological memory and protective immunity in humans. The YFV-17D vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before travel to yellow fever endemic countries and this vaccine is now increasingly used in the elderly (>55 years of age) due to larger numbers of travelers in this age group. However, little is known about the YFV induced immune responses in the elderly and also this population experiences twice as many vaccine related adverse events compared to younger vaccinees (< 40 years). In this supplemental application, we are proposing a comprehensive study that will measure both the innate and adaptive primary immune responses to the YFV-17D vaccine in the elderly population. The key features of this study are: 1) We plan to use a systems biology approach to identify innate and adaptive gene signatures that will allow us to predict immune responses in the elderly vaccinated with YFV-17D. 2) Elderly volunteers that will be recruited for the study will be individuals who are already receiving the YFV-17D for travel purposes 3) We have the infrastructure in place to begin this study immediately upon funding 4) The proposed study has very defined goals and uses the clinical framework and experimental techniques that are routinely used in our current U19 studies and will be completed within a 2 year timeframe and 5) We will hire two new post-doctoral fellows and one new technician for this study. We have already interviewed and identified qualified individuals that we would like to hire once the award is made.
Project Description: We are proposing a comprehensive study of innate and adaptive immune responses in the elderly . Such detailed analysis of vaccine-induced immune responses in the elderly has not been performed before and should provide insight into the effects of aging on the immune system. Our studies defining genomic immune signatures may provide guidelines for designing safe and effective vaccines for the elderly.
Infrastructure Description: N/A
Jobs Summary: We expect to create 2 postdoc positions and 1 technician. We expect to retain 1 technician and 1 nurse. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Not Started
This award's data was last updated on Sep. 1, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
No comments have been added for this project.