Discover what the Lavelle Lab works on

Vax2Muc will develop next generation vaccines to overcome the antimicrobial resistance of gastrointestinal mucosal pathogens compromising global public health.

Therefore, Vax2Muc will develop, as a proof-of-concept, a prophylactic H. pylori vaccine candidate that will be evaluated in a phase I clinical trial. Moreover, it will advance GMP manufacturing, investigate and progress novel vaccine technologies and strategies for optimised mucosal immunity in the gastrointestinal tract.

Vax2Muc is funded by Horizon Europe and will run for 5 years, with planned completion in June 2028.

EncOVac is an ambitious three-year venture that aims to revolutionise preventive medicine. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, the consortium is crafting a versatile platform for producing oral vaccine candidates, initially concentrating on combatting bacterial infections and developing a platform for the encapsulation of vaccines for a wide range of infectious diseases.

AIVRT is a hub of research excellence that brings together researchers from UCD, QUB, UCC, and TCD across a bold four-year partnership dedicated to enhancing human health through vaccination.

This initiative encompasses multiple fields of research, involving various faculties and field experts, and aims to advance knowledge in vaccine design, development, testing, deployment and advocacy.

Furthermore, a key objective of this mission is to train the next generation of experts across the island, north and south, highlighting the critical importance of developing skilled researchers in these essential areas.

“The Impact of Injection Site Inflammation on Vaccine Efficacy”

This project investigates how inflammation at the injection site shapes vaccine efficacy, uncovering critical links between local immune responses and long-term protection. By defining these mechanisms, we aim to guide the design of safer, and more effective vaccines.

“Development of an Adjuvanted Mucosal Vaccine System based on PLGA and Chitosan Nanoparticles for Viral Respiratory Diseases”

This project pioneers mucosal vaccination by developing novel mucosal vaccine adjuvants designed to block infection and transmission at the site of pathogen entry, paving the way toward a healthier, more resilient world.

“Tailoring checkpoint blockade to innovative adjuvants for enhanced therapeutic cancer vaccination”

This project combines next-generation cancer vaccines with checkpoint-blocking therapies to unleash the immune system’s power to recognize and defeat tumors, offering safer, more effective treatments and renewed hope for patients.

Vaccines save millions of lives, but stronger adjuvants are needed to tackle diseases like TB, influenza, and cancer. Our lab is developing new polymer-based systems to drive powerful cellular immune responses:

• PLG Nanoparticles – Using microfluidics, we create 50nm particles that potently stimulate immunity. We’re optimizing this system and testing it in infectious disease and cancer models.

• Chitin-Derived Polymers – We identified a novel polyglucosamine polymer that outperforms chitosan as an adjuvant. We’re now testing it with cancer, bacterial, and viral antigens, including in nanoparticle form to enhance CD8 T cell responses.

By refining these systems, we aim to unlock safer, more effective vaccines that transform protection against infection and cancer.