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Profiling immune responses in paediatric and high-risk populations to the COVID-19 virus (PROPHECY)

COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe disease. But people with underlying health conditions remain at risk of infection and associated complications. This study will evaluate immune responses after infection or vaccination in healthy and vulnerable people. The findings will inform future clinical care for COVID-19 and targeted approaches to improve vaccine responses in vulnerable patient groups. 

We're evaluating antibody and cellular immune responses after infection or vaccination in healthy and vulnerable people to evaluate their protection against future variants.

We'll comprehensively profile the immune responses to the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) using clinical samples collected from 11 vulnerable and immunocompromised cohorts (adults and paediatrics) and healthy individuals who have been vaccinated. Serological antibody responses and cellular responses T-cells and B-cell will be measured. 

Generating knowledge and evidence to improve vaccine schedules, future booster strategies and improved access to clinical care for vulnerable populations. In addition, our findings will inform future clinical trials to enhance vaccine responses in immunocompromised people.

Timeline

2022–2026.

Publications

08 Aug 2024

Fourth dose bivalent COVID-19 vaccines outperform monovalent boosters in eliciting cross-reactive memory B cells to Omicron subvariants

Journal of Infection

P. Mark Hogarth

Open access
01 Jan 2024

Serological responses and clinical outcomes following a three‐dose primary COVID‐19 vaccine schedule in kidney transplant recipients and people on dialysis

Clinical & Translational Immunology

Shir Sun, Irene Boo, Heidi E. Drummer, Gabriela Khoury, Irene Boo, Shir Sun, Heidi E. Drummer, Gabriela Khoury

Open access
16 Jun 2023

COVID-19 Adenoviral Vector Vaccination Elicits a Robust Memory B Cell Response with the Capacity to Recognize Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 Variants

Journal of Clinical Immunology

Irene Boo, P. Mark Hogarth, Heidi E. Drummer

Open access

Partners

Funding partners

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF): 2021 COVID-19 Treatment Access and Public Health Activities.

Collaborators

  • Alfred Health 
  • Monash Health 
  • Monash University 
  • Murdoch Children’s Research Institute 

Consumer health partners

  • Spleen Australia
  • AusPIPS
  • National Association of people with HIV Australia
  • Musculoskeletal (MSK) Australia
  • Crohn’s and Colitis Australia
  • Safer Care Victoria 

Project contacts

Main contacts

Professor Heidi Drummer

Professor Heidi Drummer

Scientific Director for Research Translation; Scientific Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative; Principal Investigator, Burnet Vaccine Initiative; Co-Head, Viral Entry and Vaccines Group
heidi.drummer@burnet.edu.au +61392822179
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Dr Gabriela Khoury

Dr Gabriela Khoury

Theme Leader, Antiviral Immunity
gabriela.khoury@burnet.edu.au
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Project team

Professor Heidi Drummer

Professor Heidi Drummer

Scientific Director for Research Translation; Scientific Director, Burnet Diagnostics Initiative; Principal Investigator, Burnet Vaccine Initiative; Co-Head, Viral Entry and Vaccines Group
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Dr Gabriela Khoury

Dr Gabriela Khoury

Theme Leader, Antiviral Immunity
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Irene Boo

Irene Boo

Research Assistant, Drummer/Poumbourios Laboratory
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Dr Dilini Rathnayake

Dr Dilini Rathnayake

Research Officer
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Dr James McMahon

Dr James McMahon

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
Alfred Hospital; Monash University
Professor Menno van Zelm

Professor Menno van Zelm

Professor of Molecular Immunology
Monash University; Erasmus University Medical Center, Netherlands
Dr Ian Woolley

Dr Ian Woolley

Infectious Diseases Physician; Director, Monash Infectious Diseases
Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash University
Associate Professor Alberta Hoi

Associate Professor Alberta Hoi

Senior Consultant
Monash Health
Professor Anne Holland

Professor Anne Holland

Professor of Physiotherapy
Alfred Health; Monash University
Professor David Curtis

Professor David Curtis

Clinical Haematologist
Alfred Health; Monash University
Dr Miles Sparrow

Dr Miles Sparrow

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor
Alfred Health; Monash University
Associate Professor James Trauer

Associate Professor James Trauer

Head of Epidemiological Modelling
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
Dr Benjamin Rogers

Dr Benjamin Rogers

Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor
Monash Health; Monash University
Associate Professor William Mulley

Associate Professor William Mulley

Nephrologist
Monash Health
Dr Samar Ojaimi

Dr Samar Ojaimi

Infectious Diseases Physician
Monash Health
Dr Ed Giles

Dr Ed Giles

Research Fellow
Monash University
Associate Professor Paul Licciardi

Associate Professor Paul Licciardi

Group Leader of Vaccine Immunology
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
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