Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

COVID-19 Immunology

Professor Ed Lavelle

Professor, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute

  • Research Institute:

    • Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute

  • Contact e-mail:
  • Contact number:
  • Thematic Area:

    • Therapeutics/ Vaccine Studies

View TCD profile

Research Profile:

The main research focus of the Lavelle group is the development of new injectable and mucosal vaccine adjuvants. A second priority is addressing the mechanisms by which vaccine adjuvants modulate innate and adaptive immune responses, an area of growing importance from a vaccine regulatory perspective.

COVID-19 Project: Novel particulate vaccine adjuvants to promote cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2:

Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 should promote antigen-specific CD8 and CD4 responses in addition to neutralising antibodies. While there are a number of adjuvants in licensed vaccines that promote strong humoral immunity, there are currently few adjuvants that effectively promote cellular immunity, especially CD8 responses in humans. The Lavelle group are investigating the potential of particulate adjuvants including biodegradable nanoparticles for promoting SARS-CoV-2 antigen specific CD8 responses in addition to Th1-biased CD4 responses and antibodies. The relationship between the physicochemical properties of the adjuvants and their ability to promote cellular and humoral immunity will be addressed.