The American Lung Association Research Institute has expanded its research into a universal influenza vaccine by awarding a $200,000 grant to the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. This funding supports a project led by Dr. Luis Martinez-Sobrido titled "A universal live‐attenuated influenza vaccine based on single‐cycle infectious influenza A virus." The new grant supplements an original project, "Development of a Universal Flu Vaccine," which received a $500,000 grant in 2023.
Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, noted the rising flu cases nationwide and low vaccination rates last year. "Over the last few months, we have been seeing rising cases of the flu nationwide, and are hearing from our physicians that people are getting really sick. On top of that, last year, only 45% of adults got a flu shot," he said. He emphasized the importance of staying healthy during flu seasons and suggested that a universal flu shot could provide broader protection against changing strains.
Influenza is described as a serious and highly contagious respiratory illness affecting millions annually. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 40 million influenza illnesses last season, resulting in 470,000 hospitalizations and around 28,000 deaths.
Dr. Martinez-Sobrido's research focuses on developing a safe and effective universal flu vaccine using a "single-cycle virus" within a live-attenuated vaccine framework. "We call it single cycle because we genetically engineered the virus so that it is only able to replicate once but cannot produce infectious virus. This combination makes it more effective than current inactivated vaccines and safer to use compared to other live-attenuated vaccines," explained Dr. Martinez-Sobrido.
This innovative approach aims to include multiple influenza virus strains in one vaccine to stimulate a more comprehensive immune response.
The American Lung Association initially announced its three-year $500,000 grant for this initiative in 2023 to expedite efforts toward developing a universal flu vaccine. Dr. Martinez-Sobrido expressed gratitude for continued support: “This is an approach I started working on many years ago, but the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors delayed the research. I am grateful to finally be able to move this idea for a universal flu vaccine forward in collaboration with the American Lung Association.”
The funding comes from the American Lung Association Research Institute's Accelerator Program, which collaborates with government entities, non-profits, and private industry partners to accelerate lung health research advancements.
