Pitt Tapped To Help Develop Coronavirus Vaccine With $4.9M Grant

PITTSBURGH, PA – The Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh has been selected as one of three organizations in an international consortium that will receive $4.9 million as part of a grant to develop a vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus. Their work will focus on using a measles vaccine to find a viable vaccine for the virus, also known as COVID-19 .

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced on Thursday the University of Pittsburgh, along with Themis and the Institute Pasteur-led, would be supporting preclinical testing and preparations for phase one of a new study.

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The Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh houses the Regional Biocontainment Laboratories, which is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The center conducts research on emerging infectious diseases and responds to global outbreaks such as the COVID-19 virus.

"All of our efforts will be directed to address this rapidly changing public health emergency," said Paul Duprex, Director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh in the announcement. "We are delighted to be part of this multinational, world-class consortium."

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness has invested a total of $29.2 million in vaccine research and development for the COVID-19 virus.