PABVAX | Paramyxoviridae and Bunyavirales Vaccines and Antibodies Center
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Our proactive collaborative research network aims to develop generalizable strategies for safe and effective vaccines and monoclonal antibodies to combat high-priority pathogens most likely to threaten human health.
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
PABVAX | Paramyxoviridae and Bunyavirales Vaccines and Antibodies Center
Select zoonotic RNA viruses within the Paramyxoviridae family and Bunyavirales order represent a continuous threat to global public health due to their ease of dissemination and/or transmissibility from person-to-person and result in significant morbidity and mortality, thus requiring special actions for public health preparedness. These viral threats to global public health are heightened due to the absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics. There is a clear unmet need for vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics to address these threats that can arise from natural outbreaks, epidemics, or bio-weaponization and deliberate release.
This Center is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number AI181930.
PABVAX Overview
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PABVAX Projects
Project 1: Antigen design and testing of arenavirus and nairovirus
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The Bunyavirales order includes deadly viruses like arenaviruses and nairoviruses, which cause severe hemorrhagic diseases with high mortality rates and long-term impacts on survivors. These pathogens pose significant public health threats due to their potential for outbreaks, person-to-person transmission, and bioweaponization, compounded by the lack of approved vaccines. PABVAX RP1 addresses this critical need by developing innovative subunit vaccines using a "plug-and-play" approach, including dissolvable microneedle patches (MNPs) for robust and long-lasting immunity. By leveraging cutting-edge tools, immunological insights, and pre-exposure antibody therapies, this research paves the way for adaptable countermeasures against these and other related viral threats
LEAD ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION:
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
VIRUS FAMILY FOCUS:
PROTOTYPE VIRUSES:
- Lassa Virus, Machupo Virus
TEST CASE VIRUSES:
- Lujo Virus, Chapare Virus
Project 2: Vaccines and Antibodies to Henipavirus
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Henipaviruses, including Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV) viruses, are deadly zoonotic pathogens causing severe respiratory and neurological diseases in humans and animals, with no approved vaccines or treatments available. This project leverages advanced technologies to develop and test a thermostable, needle-free microneedle patch (MNP) vaccine platform enhanced with polyphosphazene (PPZ) adjuvants, showing promising immunogenicity in preclinical studies. Using innovative virological tools and stabilized viral glycoproteins, the research aims to create adaptable vaccines and evaluate their efficacy against these high-priority pathogens. This work represents a transformative step toward pandemic preparedness, offering rapid and scalable solutions to combat henipaviruses and other emerging threats
LEAD ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION:
Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences
VIRUS FAMILY FOCUS:
PROTOTYPE VIRUSES:
- Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus
TEST CASE VIRUSES:
- Langya Henipavirus
Project 3: Cedar Henipavirus Animal Model
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Henipaviruses, such as Nipah (NiV) and Hendra (HeV) viruses, pose significant threats to public health and livestock, yet the high-level biocontainment required for their study limits research and countermeasure development. To overcome this challenge, researchers are developing a safer, BSL-2-compatible mouse model using a non-pathogenic Cedar virus (CedV) engineered with NiV and HeV proteins. This innovative platform, enhanced with bioluminescence technology, enables real-time tracking of infections and the study of henipavirus biology and neurovirulence. By facilitating the development and testing of therapeutics under accessible conditions, this model advances efforts to combat these deadly viruses
LEAD ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION:
Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences
VIRUS FAMILY FOCUS:
PROTOTYPE VIRUSES:
- Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus
TEST CASE VIRUSES:
- Langya Henipavirus
Project 4: Monoclonal Antibodies Against Henipaviruses, Arenaviruses, and Nairoviruses
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Paramyxoviruses, nairoviruses, and arenaviruses are diverse viral families that pose significant pandemic threats, making them ideal candidates for prototype pathogen immunity approaches. This project focuses on developing long-acting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) through advanced discovery and engineering techniques to provide potent and broad protective immunity against these viruses. By identifying and optimizing mAbs that neutralize viral surface proteins, this project aims to create durable treatments and preventive solutions for known and emerging pathogens. These efforts not only advance pandemic preparedness but also inform vaccine design and enable rapid response to future viral threats.
LEAD ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION:
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
VIRUS FAMILY FOCUS:
PROTOTYPE VIRUSES:
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus
TEST CASE VIRUSES:
- Kasokero Virus
Project 5: Nanobody Therapeutics Against Henipaviruses, Arenaviruses, and Structural Characterization
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for innovative antiviral therapies, and this project addresses that need by developing nanobody-based treatments for Henipaviruses (HNV) and arenaviruses (ARV), which cause severe illnesses with no approved therapies. Leveraging nanobodies' unique ability to target viral entry mechanisms and cross the blood-brain barrier, the research focuses on Nipah, Hendra, Lassa, and Machupo viruses. Using advanced platforms and structure-based approaches, the team aims to create potent, CNS-penetrating nanobody therapies to neutralize these high-priority pathogens. This work not only advances treatments for these deadly viruses but also establishes a versatile framework for combating future emerging viral threats
LEAD ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
VIRUS FAMILY FOCUS:
PROTOTYPE VIRUSES:
- Lassa Virus, Machupo Virus, Nipah Virus, Hendra Virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus
TEST CASE VIRUSES:
- Lujo Virus, Chapare Virus, Kasokero Virus, Langya Henipavirus
PABVAX Cores
Each ReVAMPP Center has an Administrative Core and a Data Management Core. Centers can also have up to three Scientific Cores to support resources and/or facilities that are essential for the collaborative research activities in two or more research projects.
CORE SERVICES:
Administrative
LEAD ORGANIZATION:
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston leads the ReVAMPP Center, focused on developing vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for pandemic preparedness against Paramyxoviridae and Bunyavirales viruses. The Center's Administrative Core ensures seamless coordination, ethical compliance, and strategic decision-making to drive research and translational product development. By fostering global collaboration and leveraging expert guidance from the Scientific Advisory Board and NIAID, the Center accelerates innovative solutions to emerging viral threats. Through its efforts, the ReVAMPP Center strengthens global resilience against pandemics.
CORE SERVICES:
Data Stewardship
LEAD ORGANIZATION:
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Efficient data management is essential for validating and reproducing scientific findings, and the Data Management Core is at the forefront of this effort. By creating a secure, scalable, and redundant infrastructure, the Core ensures data integrity across the entire research lifecycle--from collection and storage to analysis and dissemination. Advanced tools like standardized templates, dashboards, and automated quality control mechanisms enhance data accuracy and accessibility while adhering to stringent security standards. Led by experienced data scientists, the Core supports robust statistical analysis, bioinformatics, and translational research, promoting high standards for data quality and innovation in multi-omics and clinical science.
CORE SERVICES:
Delivery Platforms
LEAD ORGANIZATION:
University of Pittsburgh
To address the growing threat of infectious diseases, Core C focuses on developing innovative, patient-friendly vaccine platforms using dissolvable microneedle patches (MNPs) enhanced with polyphosphazene (PPZ) adjuvants. These cutting-edge platforms combine Center Research Project-specific viral antigens with PPZ's immune-boosting properties to elicit robust, long-lasting immunity. Designed for self-administration, these thermostable and cost-effective vaccines target the skin's immunoresponsive layers, enabling broad accessibility and effective distribution. By seamlessly integrating with the Center's Research Projects, Core C is advancing next-generation immunization strategies to enhance pandemic preparedness and combat emerging and re-emerging viral threats
CORE SERVICES:
Manufacturing Process Development
Vaccine/Antibody Production
Regulatory Support
LEAD ORGANIZATION:
Mapp Biopharmaceutical, Inc.
Core D bridges the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to maximize the translational impact of the PABVAX Center. By leveraging the synergies between these two interventions, Core D supports the discovery of protective vaccine epitopes, establishes correlates of protection, and develops mAbs as both complementary and alternative solutions to vaccines. Through collaboration with industry leaders, Core D ensures robust manufacturing, stability testing, and process optimization for both vaccines and mAbs. This work advances effective prototypes for long-term prevention and emergency treatments, addressing critical needs in pandemic preparedness.
CORE SERVICES:
Animal Models
Correlates of Protection
LEAD ORGANIZATION:
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Viral zoonoses such as henipaviruses, arenaviruses, and nairoviruses pose significant global health threats due to their high lethality and lack of approved vaccines or treatments. The PABVAX Center unites scientific and operational excellence to develop vaccines, treatments, and tools for these Priority Pathogens through innovative research and collaboration. Core E provides a state-of-the-art Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) laboratory and expert team to support critical animal studies, from model development to immunological and virological analysis. By addressing these urgent gaps, PABVAX is advancing pandemic preparedness and enhancing global health security.
PABVAX Participating Organizations & Institutions
- Georgia State University
- Mapp BioPharmaceuticals
- The University of Texas Medical Branch
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- University of Pittsburgh
- UT Health Houston
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center