Scientists track immune battles against flu and COVID-19
NCT ID NCT06848309
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tracks the immune response of 300 people with confirmed flu or COVID-19, comparing those who were recently vaccinated to those who were not. Participants provide blood, saliva, and nasal samples over 6 months, and some may opt for a lung fluid sample via bronchoscopy. The goal is to understand how antibodies and immune cells change over time after infection.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could improve understanding of how the immune system fights flu and COVID-19, potentially guiding future vaccine or treatment strategies.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not testing a new treatment. It will not directly benefit participants and may not lead to immediate medical advances.
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.
- Participants
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About 300 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2025
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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.
Who is studied
The study population is healthy, non-pregnant or breastfeeding adults ages 18-60 with recent vaccination against seasonal influenza and/or SARS-CoV-2 or with acute seasonal influenza infection or acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Ages
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18 to 60 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: * Participants must have presented with acute, symptomatic seasonal influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection proven by an approved CLIA certified test and be enrolled in study while still symptomatic or within 72 hours of the resolution of viral respiratory illness symptoms. * Alternatively, uninfected participants in the control cohort must have received an FDA-approved seasonal influenza and/or SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within the past 12 months and not experienced a documented influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection since receiving that most recent vaccine dose. * Participants must be able to understand and provide full written informed consent. * Participants must be male or female between the ages of 18 and 60. * Participants must be in stable health, as determined by medical history and targeted physical exam related to that history. Exclusion Criteria: * Co-infection with any respiratory virus in addition to the index influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infection on a multi-plex viral testing panel. * Severe illness with anticipated need for hospitalization for the index infection. * Current or previous diagnosis of an immunocompromising condition. * Receipt of systemic immunosuppressants or immune-modifying drugs for \> 14 days in total within 6 months prior to screening or is anticipating the need for immunosuppressive treatment at any time during study participation. * Current symptomatic acute or unstable chronic disease requiring medical or surgical care, to include significant change in therapy or hospitalization, at the discretion of the investigator. Any known diagnosed chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematologic, or metabolic disorder with the exception of isolated treated hypertension. * Known chronic neurologic or neurodevelopmental condition including spinal cord injury with resultant weakness of any kind (this does not exclude patients with chronic back pain or previous disk herniation/back surgery, only patients with documented weakness, quadriplegia or paraplegia). This exclusion criterion does not exclude from the study individuals with recurrent migraine headaches as their only chronic neurologic condition. * Active cancer diagnosis, including any cancer that has not been in remission for at least 1 year. Isolated basal or squamous cell skin cancers are not excluded. * History of excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse, psychiatric conditions, social conditions, or occupational conditions that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude compliance with the study. * Body Mass Index (BMI) \> 40 * Pregnant women and nursing mothers or women who are planning to become pregnant during the study interval. * Have donated blood, blood products or bone marrow within 30 days before study entry or plan to donate blood at any time during the duration of study participation or up to 30 days after the last study blood draw. * Current ongoing participation in a clinical trial evaluating an investigational agent, unless the trial is in follow-up only and the last dose of the investigational agent was taken \> 30 days or \> 5 half-lives prior to enrollment, whichever is greater. * Any condition in the opinion of the investigator that would interfere with the safe and proper conduct of the study. For participants willing to undergo bronchoscopy: * Coagulopathy as defined by screening safety labs that reveal an INR \> 1.4, at PTT \> 40, or a platelet count \< 100,000 precludes participation in the bronchoscopy procedure. * Evidence of ongoing significant pulmonary disease on the day of bronchoscopy, including pulse oximetry with oxygen saturation of 92% or less on room air, or infiltrate or pleural effusion noted on an upright PA and lateral chest x-ray performed on the day of bronchoscopy. * Allergy or contraindication to anesthesia for participants willing to undergo bronchoscopy.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Washington University in Saint Louis Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Care Research Core
RECRUITINGSt Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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