The GW Vaccine Research Unit

04/28/2026

Advancing global health through innovation 🌍

Research led by Dr. David Diemert, Director of the GW Vaccine Research Unit, is showing promising results in the fight against hookworm. A new clinical trial demonstrates that an experimental vaccine can significantly reduce infection intensity—an important step toward improving health outcomes for the more than 400 million people affected worldwide.

We’re proud to see this impactful work helping move the field forward. Learn more:

Led by SMHS’ David Diemert, the Phase 2 human trial showed reduced infection intensity and potential protection from anemia.

03/10/2026

Our director, Dr. David Diemert, recently interviewed with the Beacon Newspaper providing information on a new Pfizer study for C. diff, a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea.

Click this link to get to the homepage:
https://www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/

Checkout the Washington Metro edition and the interview is on page 6!

Enrollment is still open for this study, you can find the link to the interest survey here:
https://redcap.link/gwvru-cdiff

Please complete the survey below to express your interest in participating in Pfizer's Protocol C4771002 "A Study to Learn About a Clostridioides difficile Vaccine in People 65 Years of Age and Older". Eligible participants must be:

12/05/2025

The GW VRU participated in a Phase 2 randomized clinical trial that evaluated the safety and the immunogenicity of two doses of the MVA-BN vaccine for mpox that were one-fifth and one-tenth the standard dose. The team is excited to announce that the clinical findings have been reported and found that the lower doses were safe, well-tolerated, and produced an immune response in comparison to the standard dose.

To read more, click the link below!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25012575

09/11/2025

The GW VRU is pleased to share the findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial that evaluated the effects of omicron-based COVID-19 vaccines in providing an increased level of protection against COVID-19 infection. This study adds to the evidence that matching COVID-19 vaccines to the circulating strains should provide better protection.

To learn more click below!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X25010151

06/30/2025

The GW Vaccine Research Unit has created a volunteer registry for current and future clinical trials. You have the opportunity to become a part of new discoveries in vaccine research. Learn more at: https://gwvru.smhs.gwu.edu/volunteer-registry

06/18/2025

The GW VRU participated in a phase 1 human clinical trial for a recombinant HIV vaccine. This study has promising results and provides proof-of-concept for Env trimer-based GT approaches to activate broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursors and induce affinity maturation on the path toward mature bnAbs. The structural analyses demonstrate that precise targeting of bnAb precursors with atomic-level accuracy can now be achieved, heralding a new era of vaccine design.

Click the link to learn more!

A protective HIV vaccine will need to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in humans, but priming rare bnAb precursor B cells has been challenging. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase 1 human clinical trial, the recombinant, germline-...

06/17/2025

The GW VRU participated in IAVI-G002 for phase 1 human clinical trials. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of mRNA-encoded nanoparticles as priming immunogens and first-boosting immunogens (IAVI-G002). The results are promising as they establish clinical proof of concept.

Click the link to learn more!

A leading HIV vaccine strategy requires a priming immunogen to induce broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursors, followed by a series of heterologous boosters to elicit somatic hypermutation (SHM) and produce bnAbs. In two randomized, open-label ...

01/10/2025

The GW VRU is proud to announce our newest publication to describe the development of a new Na-GST-1/Alhydrogel hookworm vaccine. This study showed promising results and can be read at the link below:

Author summary Infection caused by Necator americanus is a major neglected tropical disease with significant associated morbidity. New tools, including vaccines, are needed due to the inadequacy of current control strategies. N. americanus Glutathione-S-Transferase-1 (Na-GST-1) is a leading hookworm...

10/24/2024

Abrysvo, Pfizer's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), has been approved by the FDA for the prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in people 18 to 59 years of age. Our Deputy Director, Dr. Elissa Malkin, led a clinical site that participated in a pivotal phase 3 MONET clinical trail that contributed data to this impactful study.

Click the link to learn more: https://www.drugtopics.com/view/fda-approves-abrysvo-for-adults-18-59-at-increased-risk-for-rsv

10/16/2024

⚡️Breaking News⚡️ Mpox Vaccine Is Safe and Generates a Robust Antibody Response in Adolescents. We're proud to have been a participating site and grateful to our volunteers! Read the NIH press release for more details.

A clinical trial of an mpox vaccine in adolescents found it was safe and generated an antibody response equivalent to that seen in adults. Results were presented at IDWeek2024.

09/20/2024

MVA-BN was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use against Mpox and smallpox in adolescents 12-17 years of age. This is of huge importance given the current Mpox outbreak has disproportionately impacted children. Dr. Diemert and the GW VRU team are proud to have contributed critical clinical research needed to get this vaccine approved for this vital vulnerable population!

Click the link below for more information.

MVA-BN approved for use against mpox and smallpox in adolescents 12-17 years of age after expedited review with EMARepresents the second EMA approval of an...