University of Minnesota
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Immunology and Immune Correlates of Protection

Immunology goals and milestones address critical immunologic issues for improving influenza vaccines, such as overcoming immunodominance of antigenic sites in the HA head, defining the mechanisms for inducing durable B cell immune memory, developing an improved understanding of the T cell immune response to influenza, clarifying issues around immune imprinting, determining the role of mucosal immunity, and generating new correlates of protection for assessing next-generation influenza vaccines. View more details in the Influenza Vaccines Research & Development Roadmap.

Milestones completed
2
Milestones in progress
21
Milestones not started
0
Goals
Strategic goal
2.1

Critical tools

Promote the development and standardization of immunologic tools to inform the development of universal, broadly protective, and next-generation influenza vaccines.

Strategic goal
2.2

New tools and technologies

Gain better understanding of human immunology to inform influenza vaccine development through research focused on new tools and technologies.

Strategic goal
2.3

B cell response

Improve understanding of aspects of the B-cell immune response to influenza infection and vaccination that are important for developing better vaccines and optimal strategies for vaccination, particularly in the context of partial preexisting immunity from continual exposure to influenza viruses.

Strategic goal
2.4

Prior exposure impact

Determine the impact of prior influenza virus infection or vaccination on future immune responses to influenza viruses or vaccines.

Strategic goal
2.5

T cell role

Clarify the role of T cells in generating or supporting protective immunity to influenza virus infection and/or vaccination.

Strategic goal
2.6

Mucosal immunity

Improve understanding of the role of mucosal immunity in protecting against influenza.

Strategic goal
2.7

Correlates of protection

Develop novel correlates of protection for assessing seasonal influenza vaccines and broadly protective or universal influenza vaccines as part of clinical studies that demonstrate efficacy against a disease endpoint.