Vaccine pandemic preparedness through Airway Immunology Characterization:
A collaboration between the Novo-Nordisk Foundation and independent academic researchers.
In this study, we will carry-out in-deepth characterization of the immunological differences in cellular and humoral responses following influenza vaccination administered either nasal or intramuscular routes in healthy individuals aged 18-49 years. Furthermore, we aim to identify immunological markers that potentially can be targeted to improve vaccine responses. In addition, we will establish a new collaborative research platform for accelerated immunological and clinical vaccine research to expedite the test of vaccine candidates.
Leadership team
Jens-Ulrik Jensen
Principal investigator, PI
MD, PhD, Clinical professor of Respiratory Medicine
Pradeesh Sivapalan
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Zitta Barrella Harboe
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Infectious Medicine
Project management
Dorthe Sandbæk Høgsberg
Logistics Coordinator | Leading Project Nurse
Ida Krohn
Project Coordinator | Administrative Employee
Work packages
Zaigham Saghir
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
In WP1 we provide an overview and detailed information of a variety of sampling procedures performed during the course of the study. The procedures will take place in the bronchoscopy ward and the pulmonary research facilities at Gentofte University Hospital.
Zaigham Saghir
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
In WP2 we provide an overview and detailed information of the processes in handling and storage of the variety of samples described in the document “Protocol WP1 VAXXAIR – Invasive sampling”.
For every sample type a detailed plan for handling, transportation and storage is provided.
Hanne Marquart
Senior Consultant, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
In WP3 the aim is, in close collaboration with WP5, to establish an extensive and visionary laboratory and data analysis platform to provide a multifaceted view of the immunological response to vaccines in a highly standardized and protocolled setting.
Zitta Barrella Harboe
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
In WP4 the primary objective is to outline the methodology and approach for analyzing humoral immune responses following influenza vaccination in adults, including IgG and IgA responses in both respiratory secretions and blood.
Signe Modvig
MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
In WP5 we apply an integrative omics approach to the data analysis and construct a pipeline for evaluation of the cellular immunological response to vaccines based on multi-modal data integration.
Further, a biostatistical analysis plan outline is presented. A full statistical analysis plan is being prepared.
Trial steering committee
Herlev and Gentofte Hospital
Department of Respiratory Medicine
Copenhagen Respiratory Research
Jens-Ulrik Stæhr Jensen
Professor and Senior Consultant of Respiratory Medicine
Pradeesh Sivapalan
Clinical Associate Professor and Consultant of Respiratory Medicine
Josefin Eklöf
Consultant of Respiratory Medicine
Dorthe Sandbæk Høgsberg
Leading Project Nurse
Department of Medicine
Kasper Iversen
Professor of Acute Medicine and Cardiology, Senior Consultant
Zaigham Saghir
Associate Professor and Consultant of Respiratory Medicine
Matiullah Naqibullah
Senior Consultant of Respiratory Medicine
Rigshospitalet
Section for Diagnostic Immunology
Hanne Marquart
Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Consultant of Clinical Immunology
Hans Jakob Hartling
Post doc. and Consultant
Signe Modvig
Clinical Associate Professor and Master of Bioinformatics
Danmarks Nationale Biobank
Department of Clinical Immunology
Erik Sørensen, Head of Operations
Sisse Rye Ostrowski
Clinical Professor and Senior Consultant in Medicine
Mette Kongstad
Lab Leader
North Zealand Hospital
Section for Infectious Diseases
Zitta Barrella Harboe
Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Consultant of Infectious Diseases
University of Copenhagen
Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Henrik Kløverpris
Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Tor Biering Sørensen
Professor and Head of Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials
Technical University of Denmark
Department of Health Technology Bioinformatics
Lars Rønn Olsen
Associate Professor
Statens Serum Institut
Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics
Ramona Trebbien
Senior Scientist and Head of National Influenza Center for WHO
Imperial College London
Department of Infectious Diseases
Christopher Chiu
Professor of Infectious Diseases
National Heart and Lung Institute
Ryan Thwaites
Lecturer in Respiratory Immunology
University of Geneva
Department of Pathology and Immunology
Arnaud Didierlaurent
Assistant Professor of Translational Immunology
