Scientists dive deep into immune system to unlock HPV vaccine secrets
NCT ID NCT05031078
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study looks at how the HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9) triggers a strong and lasting immune response. Researchers will track 17 healthy adults aged 18-45 who receive three doses of the vaccine. By analyzing blood, saliva, lymph nodes, and bone marrow over several years, they aim to understand why some people maintain high antibody levels for a long time. The goal is to learn how to improve future vaccines, not to test the vaccine itself.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- HPV vaccine (Gardasil-9)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help scientists understand how to make vaccines that provide longer-lasting protection against HPV and related cancers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small study (17 people) focused on understanding immune responses, not on proving the vaccine works. Results may not apply to everyone, and the procedures (lymph node and bone marrow sampling) carry minor risks like discomfort or bruising.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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17 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2021
- Finished
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Mar 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 45 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals aged 18-45 years old (inclusive), as the HPV vaccine is approved for this age range in adults * BMI ≤ 32. * Able to understand and give informed consent (provided in American English). * Must be in good health based on physical examination, vital signs, medical history, and the investigator's clinical judgment. * Must be available and willing to participate for the duration of this study * Must be willing to undergo lymph node fine needle aspiration and bone marrow aspiration * Must be willing to consent to the future use of remaining (residual) samples/specimens. Exclusion Criteria: * Ever received a dose of an HPV vaccine * HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 or 58 seropositivity * Any history of genital warts, an abnormal pap smear, or positive HPV DNA test * Has known allergy or history of anaphylaxis or other serious adverse reaction to a vaccine or vaccine products * Has known allergy or history of anaphylaxis to yeast or products containing yeast * Any allergy to lidocaine. * Pregnancy or breast feeding. * Subjects who believe they cannot tolerate the lymph node fine needle aspirate or bone marrow aspirate procedures without sedation * Any history of lymphoma involving axillary nodes, any history of breast cancer, bilateral inflammatory process of upper arms in the past 2 weeks, prior breast or axillary biopsy and/or surgery that in the opinion of the investigator would affect the immune response results. * Local infection, lymphadenitis, or rash in targeted area. * Received any vaccine from 14 days before vaccine dose until 30 days after each vaccine dose.\* \*An individual who is initially excluded from study participation based on one or more of the time-limited exclusion criteria (fever, receipt of other vaccines) may be reconsidered for enrollment once the condition has resolved as long as the subject continues to meet all other entry criteria. * Volunteers with fever (≥100.4 F or 38°C regardless of the route) within 3 days prior to vaccination.\* \*An individual who is initially excluded from study participation based on one or more of the time-limited exclusion criteria (fever, receipt of other vaccines) may be reconsidered for enrollment once the condition has resolved as long as the subject continues to meet all other entry criteria. * History of or presence of severe co-morbidities as determined by the investigator, including autoimmune disease, or clinically significant cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, rheumatologic, renal disease, thrombocytopenia, and grade 4 hypertension\*. \*Grade 4 hypertension per CTCAE criteria is defined as Life-threatening consequences (e.g., malignant hypertension, transient or permanent neurologic deficit, hypertensive) * History of a bleeding disorder or currently taking anti-coagulant products\* (e.g. warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitors, heparin products, etc.), anti-platelet products, and/or NSAIDs including aspirin. \*including in the past week; however, an individual who is initially excluded from study participation based on one or more of the time-limited exclusion criteria may be reconsidered for enrollment once the condition has resolved as long as the subject continues to meet all other entry criteria * Has history of active malignancy other than squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer, unless there has been surgical excision that is considered to have achieved cure. * Current and/or expected immunosuppression due to cancer, receipt of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and any other immunosuppressive therapies (including anti-TNF therapy). * Has known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, including functional or anatomic asplenia, or recent history or current use of immunosuppressive therapy\*. \*Anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the preceding 3 years, or long-term (≥2 weeks within the previous 3 months) systemic corticosteroid therapy (e.g., prednisone at a dosage of ≥20 mg per day or on alternative days). Intranasal or topical prednisone (or equivalent) are allowed. * Known chronic infections including, but not limited to, known HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C. * Is post-organ, bone marrow, and/or stem cell transplant, whether or not on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. * Received blood products or immunoglobulin in the 3 months before study entry or planned use during this study. * Had major surgery (per the investigator's judgment) within 4 weeks before study entry or planned major surgery during this study. * Insulin-dependent diabetes\* mellitus type 1 or type 2 requiring therapy \*History of isolated gestational diabetes is not an exclusion criterion. * Received experimental therapeutic agents within 12 months before first vaccine dose or plans to receive any experimental therapeutic agents 12 months after first vaccine dose that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the safety or objectives of the study. COVID-19 vaccines that fall under FDA EUA will be treated as approved vaccines for the purposes of this study. * Is currently participating or plans to participate in another clinical study which would involve receipt of an investigational product or undergo a procedure that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with safety or objectives of the study. * Current diagnosed or self-reported alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or psychiatric conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude compliance with the study. * Social, occupational, or any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator might interfere with compliance with the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The Hope Clinic of Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30030, United States
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Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- MRI scans may reveal which throat cancer patients need stronger treatment
- Could a single HPV shot match the standard regimen?
- Could Self-Sampling revolutionize cervical cancer screening?
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- Pocket-sized HIV test could bring same-day diagnosis to community clinics