Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health

06/10/2026

CVD Spotlight: Jose Lemme, PhD

Dr. Jose Lemme is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and a valued member of the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development & Global Health.

He has pioneered the development of human immune organoid models, which are innovative tissue culture models that are transforming our understanding of mucosal immunity and human health. Dr. Lemme’s research focuses on two key areas:

• Mucosal immune development and responses to infectious and commensal microorganisms
•Host-pathogen interaction in the gut and immunity to diarrheal pathogens

His work is helping to inform public health interventions and advance the fields of tissue engineering, immunology, infectious diseases, and vaccinology.

Recently, Dr. Lemme was awarded an R21 grant from to study Bordetella pertussis infection and immunity in human nasal organoids.

He is known among mentors, mentees, and collaborators for the rigor, innovation, and excellence of his research. Dr. Lemme also stands out for his commitment and collaborative approach.

Thank you, Dr. Lemme, for your outstanding contributions to CVD!

06/09/2026

Exciting new research from CVD!

New research published today in highlights encouraging results from a clinical trial evaluating a dual-target vaccine for Lassa fever and rabies called LASSARAB.

“This vaccine is designed to protect against two viruses of global health importance,” said study principal investigator Justin Ortiz, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine. “By combining targets into a single product, it could reduce the need for separate vaccination efforts and streamline delivery in settings where access is limited.”

This first-in-human study of the LASSARAB vaccine found it to be safe and capable of generating antibody responses against both viruses.

LASSARAB was developed by a research team led by Mathias Schnell, Director of the Jefferson Center for Vaccines and Pandemic Preparedness.

Congratulations to the entire team on this important milestone!
Read more: https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/cvd/news-and-events/cvd-news/first-in-human-clinical-trial-shows-promising-results-for-new-lassa-fever-vaccine.html

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) reported encouraging results from an early clinical trial that tested a new dual vaccine against Lassa fever and rabies. The study, published today in the journal Nature Medicine,...

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Alexander Laurenson, MD/PhD Student, on receiving an F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from NIAID!

His funded project, “In Silico Prediction of Plasmodium falciparum Epitopes as Vaccine Candidates,” builds on his recent publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41775037/

Alex is mentored by CVD faculty member Matt Laurens, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics.

We’re excited to see the impact of this work. Congratulations, Alex and we look forward to your continued success!

05/27/2026

CVD Faculty Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony!

We’re proud to celebrate two CVD faculty members recognized at the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC) Annual Awards Ceremony!

A.D. Hammershaimb, MD, MS received the Early Career Investigator Award, recognizing outstanding research contributions by a recent graduate or current participant in the IDCRC Mentoring Program that advance the VTEU and IDCRC missions.

Wilbur H. Chen, MD, MS was awarded Best Scientific Publication of the Year for a high-impact IDCRC-cited Lancet publication that has significantly influenced the scientific community and contributed to policy change.

Read the winning publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40086461/

Congratulations to Drs. Hammershaimb and Chen on these well-deserved honors!

05/27/2026

Stayin' alive with science!

Join a study using wearable devices to detect malaria symptoms.

Looking for interested adults 18-50 years old.

Compensation may be up to $2715 for qualified volunteers.

Learn more: www.CVDTrials.org/InfectionDetection

05/11/2026

Last week, Stefan Kappe, PhD (CVD Director), Kirsten Lyke, MD (Professor of Medicine), and Devin Fisher, PhD (Marketing Lead), represented the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at a event on Capitol Hill.

Hosted by Malaria No More and United to Beat Malaria, in partnership with the Malaria Roundtable, the event brought together leading researchers and innovators from across the U.S. committed to eliminating malaria worldwide.

CVD was proud to showcase its research, expertise, and continued leadership in the fight against this devastating disease.

Learn more: https://www.malarianomore.org/story/american-led-innovation-is-taking-on-malaria

05/07/2026

If you owned cassette tapes, you may be eligible to take part in a Next Gen COVID Vaccine Study.

We’re looking for healthy adults aged 18-64 to participate in our study.

Compensation may be up to $1,300 for qualified volunteers.

Learn more: www.cvdtrials.org/NextGen

04/30/2026

CVD Celebrates World Immunization Week!

“Vaccines don’t just save lives—they preserve what a life can make possible for the future. The global rise in childhood survival is one of vaccination’s greatest achievements. By preventing devastating diseases before they strike, vaccines have added decades of healthy life to children worldwide.” - Wilbur Chen, MD, MS, Frank M. Calia, MD Endowed Professor, Chief of Geographic Medicine

04/29/2026

CVD Celebrates World Immunization Week!

“World Immunization Day traces back to Vaccination Week in the Americas campaigns in the early 2000s, when countries recognized that measles does not respect borders and requires a coordinated response. That lesson still holds: vaccination protects individuals, but broad participation helps protect communities and the most vulnerable among us.” – Justin Ortiz, MD, Professor of Medicine

04/28/2026

CVD Celebrates World Immunization Week!

“Vaccines have prevented an excess 154 million deaths in the last 50 years but the guardrails to ensure vaccine testing and safety are under threat. Global inequity remains in regard to vaccine access and work to equalize availability of vaccines is critical.” – Kirsten Lyke, MD, Professor of Medicine