Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Student Awarded Predoctoral Fellowship Grant to Develop Universal Flu Vaccine

ATLANTA — Phillip Grovenstein, a Ph.D. student in the Translational Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, has received a two-year, $89,658 predoctoral fellowship grant to address the urgent need for a more effective universal influenza vaccine.

The grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used to identify mechanisms of certain vaccine combinations that enhance immune responses and develop a broadly protective flu vaccine.

“Current seasonal flu vaccines offer limited and inconsistent protection due to frequent mutations in the virus,” Grovenstein said. “There’s a critical need for a more effective, broadly protective (universal) flu vaccine, especially as existing strategies targeting conserved viral regions have fallen short.

“My preliminary findings showed that mRNA-based vaccines targeting conserved viral elements like the M2e ectodomain and HA stem domain can provide cross-protection against multiple flu strains. Preliminary data revealed that a tandem repeat of M2e (5xM2e) mRNA vaccine can enhance immune responses when co-administered with other conventional flu vaccines. With the help of this grant, my proposed study aims to identify mechanisms of this vaccine combination to develop a broadly protective and more effective flu vaccination strategy.”

The NIH offers several research fellowships to support career development, and this funding is affiliated with the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Predoctoral Fellowship (F31). The award is designed to enable promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH institutes and centers.

The proposed mentored research is expected to enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist. The fellowship provides tuition assistance, a stipend and institutional allowance, including books, equipment and travel to meetings.

To compete for the fellowship, applicants had to submit a detailed description of their research and educational background, a proposal for the research project, a minimum of three letters of recommendation, and a summary of the university’s resources and capabilities to support this research. The application also required information on the mentor’s research focus, background and track record on mentoring students.

Sang-Moo Kang, a Distinguished University Professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State, serves as Grovenstein’s mentor and research adviser.

Upon graduation, Grovenstein, a fourth-year Ph.D. student, would like to become an independent research scientist and return to the biotech/biopharmaceutical industry. He joined the Translational Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program to gain the skills to become a biomedical researcher specializing in vaccine development.

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