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Mucosal Immunity Innovation
( MucInn) Teaming

Thank you for your interest in the Mucosal Immunity Innovation (MucInn) Program. MucInn is seeking to advance formulation and delivery technologies for mucosal influenza vaccines that can effectively deliver vaccines in relevant nonclinical models. Areas of interest include technologies that enhance penetration across mucosal surfaces, overcome mucosal delivery barriers, elicit robust and durable mucosal and systemic immune responses, co-deliver antigen and adjuvant, and improve translational readiness and manufacturability. Because these goals often require multidisciplinary expertise, collaborations between innovators are encouraged to strengthen potential applications.

Teaming

If you or your organization would like to explore collaborations with other potential MucInn applicants, please complete the form below. Following a brief vetting process, VITAL will contact you and, if approved, add your information to a publicly accessible teaming directory to help facilitate connections with prospective collaborators. This directory is intended to bring together organizations with complementary expertise, including mucosal vaccine development, antigen design, delivery technologies, adjuvants and formulations, influenza pathophysiology, vaccine development and regulatory strategy, manufacturing, and influenza immunogenicity and challenge studies.

Submit Teaming Form

Browse profiles of organizations and researchers interested in MucInn collaboration below. Each profile includes contact information, so if you see a potential fit, reach out directly to start the conversation. VITAL does not broker individual partnerships, so we encourage you to connect with collaborators on your own.

Please note that by publishing the teaming profiles, neither VITAL nor BARDA is endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise promoting or elevating the qualifications of the individuals or organizations included on the list. Additionally, completing the teaming form does not constitute an application for the MucInn funding opportunities, but rather, provides you an opportunity to partner and collaborate with other potential applicants to strengthen the quality of the submission. Submissions to the teaming profiles list are reviewed and updated periodically. 

AuraVax Therapeutics Inc

Last updated:
Contact
Joseph Sullivan
Location
Houston, TX, United States
Website
https://www.auravax.com
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Adjuvant & immune modulation
Technology Category
  • Mucosal adjuvants
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

Activation of innate immunity via cGAS-STING pathway to treat and prevent respiratory viral infections. The platform technology has been developed as a mucosal adjuvant for various vaccine antigen types. In seven different animal models, AuraVax has shown safety and efficacy.

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

In vivo research has shown that our mucosal adjuvant, NanoSTING-002, can safely boost the efficacy of subunit, WIV, and LAV antigens to provide protection to vaccinated subjects and block transmission of viral shedding to non-vaccinated subjects. Further, our research has shown that H1N1 LAV intranasal vaccines boosted with NansSTING-002 can provide cross protection to H5N1 challenge.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

The formulation, manufacturing, product characterization and preclinical research for NanoSTING-002 is completed. AuraVax believes the adjuvant is ready for preclinical vaccine development. Currently, the company is pursuing GLP toxicity and safety studies to submit an IND and begin human testing (NansSTING-001 as a host directed therapeutic).

Battelle Biomedical Research Center

Last updated:
Contact
Melicia Gainey
Location
West Jefferson, OH, United States
Website
https://www.battelle.org/markets/health/laboratories
Organization Type
  • Service Provider - CRO
Core Development Category
  • Preclinical models, immune evaluation
Technology Category
  • Other
Pre-clinical models and clinical trial bioanalysis experience
Current Stage of Development
  • Commercial

Primary Focus of Work

Battelle has established murine and ferret influenza infection models and conducted numerous vaccine efficacy studies. We have also established an influenza non-animal microphysiological system (MPS) using human lung cells. We maintain an influenza virus repository and can source novel strains as needed. We have validated HAI and microneutralization assays, along with a qualified NAI-ELLA, to support clinical trials. Our expertise includes creating, propagating, and characterizing candidate vaccine and wild-type influenza viruses, as well as using reverse genetics to generate recombinant viruses for cross-neutralization studies. Battelle’s rigorous quality management program supports IND filings.

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Battelle has tested multiple vaccine routes in our nonclinical models including intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intranasal, inhalation, and intradermal.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

We are looking for partners in need of nonclinical studies (proof of concept, dose-down, efficacy, naive pharmacokinetic, infected pharmacokinetic, etc.) or bioanalysis studies in support of their clinical trials.

BIOQUAL, Inc.

Last updated:
Contact
Swagata Kar
Location
Rockville, MD, United States
Website
https://bioqual.com/
Organization Type
  • Service Provider - CRO
Core Development Category
  • Preclinical models, immune evaluation
Technology Category
  • Delivery systems
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

Preclinical Testing

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

BIOQUAL can evaluate influenza vaccine candidates across relevant nonclinical models, including mice, ferrets, and nonhuman primates. Our capabilities support vaccine administration through various routes, including intramuscular, intranasal, subcutaneous, and other route-specific approaches, depending on the vaccine platform and study objectives.

Studies can be designed to assess the impact of delivery route on vaccine immunogenicity, protection, and viral replication following challenge. Comprehensive endpoints may include HAI, microneutralization, neuraminidase inhibition, ELISA, cellular immune responses, viral RNA/viral load, and clinical observations. These integrated models, delivery approaches, and analytical assays enable evaluation of route-dependent vaccine performance and provide translational data to support influenza vaccine development.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

Vaccine providers with the technology to design and formulate a vaccine.

Boost Biopharma, Inc.

Last updated:
Contact
Steve Gold
Location
Boston, MA, United States
Website
https://www.boostbiopharma.com/
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Antigen/Vaccine development
Technology Category
  • Antigen-adjuvant co-delivery
Current Stage of Development
  • Clinical stages

Primary Focus of Work

Boost's focus: novel protein subunit antigen platforms

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Boost's influenza antigens have been evaluated in NHPs, and the Rapid Vaccine Antigen (RVA) platform is clinically demonstrated.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

Boost is seeking partners with adjuvant and other technologies that could improve intranasal administration effectiveness of our protein subunit antigens. Boost's influenza antigens (non-adjuvanted) have already been demonstrated as safe and effective in NHPs, and we are seeking partners to further improve our vaccine performance.

Codagenix Inc

Last updated:
Contact
Jeffrey Fu
Location
Farmingdale, NY, United States
Website
https://www.codagenix.com
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Antigen/Vaccine development
Technology Category
  • Other
Influenza live virus vaccines
Current Stage of Development
  • Clinical stages

Primary Focus of Work

2nd generation pandemic and seasonal live virus influenza vaccines

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Intranasal delivery demonstrated HAI and nAb responses in small and NHP animal models

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

Deep and consistent intranasal upper respiratory tract delivery of live attenuated influenza vaccines

Duke University Regional Biocontainment Laboratory

Last updated:
Contact
Herman Staats
Location
Durham, NC, United States
Website
https://dhvi.duke.edu/programs-and-centers/shared-resources/containment-laboratories/animal-models-unit-rbl
Organization Type
  • Academic/Research Organization
Core Development Category
  • Preclinical models, immune evaluation
Technology Category
  • Other
Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs). We have the ability to use highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates in mice and ferrets. We also have the ability to perform direct contact transmission studies in ferrets, these are useful to determine if vaccines are able to prevent virus shedding that is able to transmit the virus to unvaccinated animals.
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

Our research team is experienced with mouse and ferret models of influenza infection. Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs). We have the ability to use highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates in mice and ferrets. We also have the ability to perform direct contact transmission studies in ferrets, these are useful to determine if vaccines are able to prevent virus shedding that is able to transmit the virus to unvaccinated animals.

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs).

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

Our team performed many of the mouse and ferret preclinical vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies for the Duke Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs). We have the ability to use highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates in mice and ferrets. We also have the ability to perform direct contact transmission studies in ferrets, these are useful to determine if vaccines are able to prevent virus shedding that is able to transmit the virus to unvaccinated animals. We are interested in partnering with MucInn teams to provide mouse and/or ferret vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy studies.

Dyadic International, Inc.

Last updated:
Contact
Mark Emalfarb
Location
Jupiter, FL, United States
Website
https://www.dyadic.com
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Antigen/Vaccine development
Technology Category
  • Other
Protein antigens, including ferritin nanoparticles, trimers and fusion proteins
Current Stage of Development
  • Clinical stages

Primary Focus of Work

Rapid strain development, production and purification of protein antigens, enzymes, mAbs and other therapeutics

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Complex influenza antigens can be expressed that combined with the right adjuvant can generate protection against influenza viruses including avian influenza H5, H7 & H9 as well as H1, H3, NA, etc...

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

We are looking for partners that need access to a robust, high yielding low-cost protein antigens that don't require viral clearance

InflammaSense

Last updated:
Contact
Imanuel Lerman
Location
La Jolla, CA, United States
Website
https://www.inflammaSense.com
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Antigen/Vaccine development
Technology Category
  • Other
InflammaSense Classifies likelihood of Seroconversion and Reactogenecity
Current Stage of Development
  • Clinical stages

Primary Focus of Work

InflammaSense reads endogenous inflammatory states that indicate a future response to vaccination.

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

InflammaSense is building a cadre of organ on chip models that emulate the host response to influenza vaccination and influenza infection.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

We hope to partner with Vaccine development groups interested in clinical trial platforms with organoid and assembloid system with the aim to provide high throughout drug and vaccination testing at scale.

Jurata Inc.

Last updated:
Contact
Tim Obara
Location
Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Website
https://www.juratatf.com/
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Formulation technologies
Technology Category
  • Antigen-adjuvant co-delivery
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

A formulation technology platform that thermostabilizes a wide range of biologics for ambient storage, eliminating the need for cold-chain infrastructure. The platform also enables mucosal administration (such as oral, sublingual, or intranasal) via liquid or self-administered solid film presentations. Our technology process can be readily integrated into manufacturing fill/ finish with no change in the upstream drug substance process or need for administration devices or lyophilization to stabilize. Thermostabilization and mucosal administration has been demonstrated in multiple envelope viruses

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

This mechanism enables viral antigens to remain protected during mucosal transit while being released at the appropriate immune inductive sites, supporting effective mucosal immune engagement. Key Features 1) Reversible polymer–antigen association without permanent encapsulation 2) pH-responsive protection during gastric transit 3) Increased antigen residence time at nasal, sublingual, and buccal surfaces 4) Preserved antigen integrity for uptake in GALT, NALT, SL/BU Mucosa

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

Influenza vaccine candidates ranging from cell culture, to live attenuated to inactivated are all applicable to the Jurata mucosal administration and thermostabilization technology

SeromYx Systems

Last updated:
Contact
Lenny Moise
Location
Woburn, MA, United States
Website
https://www.seromyx.com
Organization Type
  • Service Provider - CRO
Core Development Category
  • Preclinical models, immune evaluation
Technology Category
  • Other
systems serology
Current Stage of Development
  • Clinical stages

Primary Focus of Work

Immune profiling linking antibody Fc biophysical and functional features to clinical outcomes SeromYx combines a broad repertoire of high throughput antibody effector function assays using serum and mucosal samples and machine learning to enable rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and high-resolution profiling of immune signatures of disease progression, protection, and resolution. Our platform delivers actionable biological insights at clinical and population scale and has been applied across infectious disease, inflammation, cancer, and neurodegeneration, supporting the full discovery and drug development continuum.

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Fc profiling in nonclinical models can identify influenza correlates of protection and discriminate between vaccine antigen compositions and adjuvant formulations, guiding decisions leading to clinical development

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

We seek partners who have influenza expertise, interest in antibody function as a marker of protection, access to well-characterized clinical and/or preclinical mucosal sample sets, and capabilities in vaccine and/or antibody therapeutic development that would enable studies that track antibody profile changes with treatment.

TollereBio

Last updated:
Contact
Hans Lien
Location
Silver Spring, MD, United States
Website
https://www.tollerebio.com
Organization Type
  • Biotech
Core Development Category
  • Adjuvant & immune modulation
Technology Category
  • Mucosal adjuvants
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

Vaccine adjuvants

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

Published data available for the use of BECC adjuvants in influenza pre-clinical models

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

TollereBio’s BECC adjuvant technology platform offers best in class, rationally designed TLR4 agonist adjuvants backed by pre-clinical data demonstrating the ability to elicit balanced Th1/Th2 immune responses, promote cross-protective immunity, enhance vaccine durability, and enable dose sparing. Our lead adjuvants BECC470s and BECC438s are fully synthetic, with structure specific purity and clear regulatory pathways for clinical development.

University of California, San Diego

Last updated:
Contact
Tomoko Hayashi
Location
La Jolla, CA, United States
Website
https://www.ucsd.edu/
Organization Type
  • Academic/Research Organization
Core Development Category
  • Adjuvant & immune modulation
Technology Category
  • Mucosal adjuvants
Current Stage of Development
  • Pre-clinical

Primary Focus of Work

Development of vaccine adjuvants that are versatile for a broad range of respiratory pathogens

Influenza Vaccine Delivery in Nonclinical Models

The small-molecule immuno-enhancing agents will be formulated into nanoparticles containing antigens. Nanoparticles will enable transmucosal, slow delivery of antigens and adjuvants via the intranasal route.

What We’re Seeking in Teaming Partners

We seek the sources for (1) the antigens (the influenza virus proteins or components) and (2) pre-clinical evaluation service using ferrets.