Research Timeline
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Our research progress to date
- Ferret models show that LAIV can induce an HA-independent protective immune response, and that NA may play a role in cross-protection
- Further validation of study methods and investigation of durability of broad- vs strain-specific protection is ongoing in 2026
Initially, the MOVE Consortium will investigate possible mediators of protection for LAIV
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1. Overall objective
Determine role of NA as a mediator of protection for LAIV in the ferret model
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2. Outcomes
- Identify candidate correlate of protection for LAIV in future clinical trials
- Data will rule NA in/out as a non-HA mechanism of protection for LAIV
- PoC data measuring HA/NA antibody activity in ferret mucosal samples
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3. Value
NA mechanism of protection may be less susceptible to seasonal antigenic drift, allowing development of vaccines with more stable effectiveness
Objectives and outcomes for our non-clinical studies
Objectives
- Evaluate the contribution of NA to protection against a H3N2 challenge in the ferret model
- Assess the contribution of seasonal vaccination to protection against an HPAI challenge in the ferret model
Outcome measures
- Systemic humoral and cellular responses to NA
- Mucosal responses to vaccination (using novel sampling techniques)
- Protection from heterologous challenge
Our research progress to date
The SNIFFLES study (Southern Hemisphere Nasal Influenza FLu Vaccine Experience Study) began in April 2026 and is now actively recruiting.
This 3-year clinical study in Australia will compare nasal spray and injectable flu vaccines in children aged 2–9 years, aiming to characterise mucosal and systemic immune responses for LAIV versus IIV. The data generated will feed directly into MOVE’s core mission of identifying a mucosal correlate of protection and understanding how immunity in the nose and airways drives protection and limits transmission.
Importantly, this is the first study of its kind where some of the samples collected will help the WHO formulate flu vaccines and strain selection for children in the Southern Hemisphere. Biological samples and data will be analysed by the MOVE Consortium at Imperial College London.
Initially, the MOVE Consortium will investigate possible mediators of protection for LAIV
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1. Overall objective
Determine the functions of mucosal antibodies induced by LAIV
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2. Outcomes
- Tools for studying viral neutralisation by mucosal antibodies
- Data on the breadth of antigen binding by mucosal antibodies, relative to systemic antibodies
- Mucosal and systemic LAIV immunogenicity data in children and adults
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3. Value
Immune response features induced by LAIV can be advanced as candidate correlates of protection in clinical trials
Objectives and outcomes for our clinical studies
Objectives
- Develop new tools for studying humoral immunity in the human nose
- Assess the types and properties of immune responses induced by LAIV in adults and children
Outcome measures
These studies will result in a new toolkit for studying LAIV, and identify new candidate mucosal correlates of protections:
- Assays for mucosal humoral immunity to influenza
- Mucosal responses to vaccination
- Candidate correlates of protection for future testing
Abbreviations: HA = hemagglutinin; HPAI = highly pathogenic avian influenza A; IgA=immunoglobulin A; IIV = inactivated influenza vaccine; LAIV = live attenuated influenza vaccine; NA = neuraminidase; PoC = proof of concept; RWE = real-world evidence.