University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Microbiology & ImmunologyTuberculosis Vaccine Research Lab
Charles A. Scanga · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Charles A. Scanga's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on improving tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, particularly for HIV-infected children. The research explores new delivery methods and vaccine strains to enhance safety and effectiveness. Using animal models, the lab aims to better understand immune responses to TB vaccines and how these can be optimized for vulnerable populations.
tuberculosisBCG vaccineHIVimmunologyanimal modelspediatric infectious diseasesvaccination strategiesmucosal deliveryimmune responsesafety and efficacy
Research Aims
5AIM 01Define the immunogenicity of BCG and BCG1419c in juvenile macaques.
AIM 02Assess the protective efficacy of the new BCG1419c vaccine using virulent Mtb challenge.
AIM 03Evaluate the safety of BCG and BCG1419c in SIV-infected macaques.
AIM 04Characterize immune responses using advanced assays like single cell RNAseq.
AIM 05Investigate alternative routes of vaccine delivery to improve outcomes in pediatric populations.
Skills the Lab Values
flow cytometrymucosal immunizationanimal model experimentationRNA sequencingserological assaysepigenetic analysisimaging techniques (PET/CT)pathology assessmentvaccination protocolsdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications116bottom 44% of dept.272nd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.4ktop 48% of dept.233rd of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.