Oral delivery of Adenovirus vector vaccines
University of Oxford and Upperton Pharma Solutions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, four out of 12 vaccines licensed for emergency use were Adenoviral-vectored vaccines. Although Adenoviral vectors are a well-established vaccine platform, the immune response is limited by the current routes of delivery. Most vaccines are administered intramuscularly via needle. Oral administration is more convenient, with improved storage/distribution, facilitation of self-administration and greater public acceptability ultimately leading to higher vaccine uptake. In this project we plan to formulate Adenovirus-vectored vaccines, investigate oral delivery and explore subsequent GI tract immunogenicity.
• Start Date: 1st July 2025
• Amount Awarded: £100,000.00
• Project Partners: Prof. Sarah Gilbert (Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford) and Dr Richard Johnson (Upperton Pharma Solutions)
Delivering Prime-Boost-Boost immunisation with a single injection
Jenner Institute and Clinical BioManufacturing Facility (CBF), University of Oxford.
Achieving Prime-Boost immunisation with a single injection, through delayed delivery of the booster vaccine administered together with the prime, has been a long-standing goal of the WHO. We have developed a microfluidics-based vaccine encapsulation technology which produces injectable microcapsules that allow precise delivery of the booster vaccine payload in vivo. Having demonstrated its application and protective efficacy with a single-injection Prime-Boost in a mouse model of malaria, we will now evaluate its utility with two different delayed-release vaccine formulations, delivering a three dose (Prime-Boost-Boost) regimen against malaria with a single injection.
• Start Date: 1st September 2025
• Amount Awarded: £80,008.09
• Project Partners: Associate Prof. Anita Milicic (Jenner Institute, University of Oxford) and the Clinical BioManufacturing Facility (CBF), University of Oxford
Cellulose microspheres as a novel platform for thermostable vaccine delivery
Narturbeads, University College London and Vitafluence AI
The highly collaborative project aims to develop novel low-cost thermostable vaccine formulations by immobilising antigens on cellulose microspheres. Reducing the reliance of vaccines on the cold chain could help cut wastage and improve accessibility in remote and low-resource areas. Naturbeads will produce and characterise the microspheres, which will then be tested for immunogenicity and thermal stability by Prof. Sudaxshina Murdan’s group at UCL. Vitafluence will leverage AI technology to streamline the experimental work and generate a predictive platform to guide future studies. The outcome of the project will be an innovative approach to rapidly design novel thermostable vaccine formulations.
• Start Date: 1st July 2025
• Amount Awarded: £99,997.23
• Project Partners: Ferdinando Radice (Naturbeads), Prof. Sudaxshina Murdan (UCL) and Dr. Peter Owotoki (Vitafluence AI)
Overall, our assessors were highly impressed with the quality of the applications and the key collaborations being developed. In line with our commitment to nurturing a strong, diverse network, we would like to take a moment to appreciate these efforts and further encourage them.
Congratulations to all the recipients – we’re proud to support the development of your innovative projects and look forward to seeing the progress ahead! These projects are due to be completed in summer 2026, and we look forward to sharing their outcomes upon completion.
If you are interested in knowing more about our upcoming calls, please visit our Funding Calls page.