Center for Vaccine Research
The Center for Vaccine Research is a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine academic center that develops vaccines and therapeutics against emerging infectious diseases using BSL-3 containment facilities and animal models, funded primarily by NIH, CDC, and Department of Defense grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Center for Vaccine Research does
The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) is an academic research center within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that conducts vaccine and therapeutic development against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Its research portfolio spans coronaviruses, influenza, arboviruses (Venezuelan and eastern equine encephalitis, Rift Valley fever), tularemia, tuberculosis, and HIV, with work extending from molecular biology through animal models to human cohort vaccine trials. CVR houses the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, a BSL-3 and animal BSL-3 facility fully registered for work with select agents and CDC/USDA overlap pathogens, along with specialized aerobiology, radiotelemetry, plethysmography, and in vivo PET/CT imaging capabilities supporting rodent, ferret, rabbit, and nonhuman primate models.
The center is staffed by over 30 faculty members and hundreds of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, led by Director Paul Duprex, who holds the Jonas Salk Chair for Vaccine Research. CVR operates under a non-commercial funding model, with operating support derived from federal grants (NIH R01/U01/P01 mechanisms, CDC, and the Department of Defense), University of Pittsburgh institutional support, and philanthropic donations. Revenue is not disclosed because the center does not sell products or services. Notable outputs include early SARS-CoV-2 isolation in February 2020, llama nanobody COVID-19 therapeutic development, and a $14.5 million Department of Defense award for mosquito-borne virus countermeasure research.
CVR's go-to-market is academic rather than commercial: it pursues influence through peer-reviewed publication, federal grant capture, inter-institutional collaboration (e.g., Washington University on VEEV decoy molecules, Albany Medical College on tularemia), and public science engagement including documentary films and media coverage. The center joined a multi-institution pandemic preparedness network in September 2024, positioning itself as a standing asset for preemptive response to high-consequence pathogen threats.
Center for Vaccine Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center for Vaccine Research
- Legal name
- Center for Vaccine Research
- Website
- https://cvr.pitt.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Center for Vaccine Research is a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine academic center that develops vaccines and therapeutics against emerging infectious diseases using BSL-3 containment facilities and animal models, funded primarily by NIH, CDC, and Department of Defense grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center for Vaccine Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Academic Vaccine Research
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Infectious Disease & Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines (emerging pathogens) (HLAAAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release) (HLAAAEAK), Pandemic Preparedness & Rapid-Response Vaccines (HLAIAEAF), Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs (HLAMAKAM), Disease-Specific Reference Laboratory Networks (e.g., TB, HIV, Influenza) (HLAJAIAD)
Keywords
Where Center for Vaccine Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Center for Vaccine Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Marketing channels5 records
Center for Vaccine Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) at the University of Pittsburgh conducts vaccine and novel therapeutic research against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. It operates specialized BSL-2, BSL-2+, and BSL-3/3+ biocontainment laboratories including the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) registered for select agent work, providing end-to-end research capabilities from molecular biology through animal models to human cohort studies, with particular emphasis on respiratory and vector-borne pathogens.
Product overview
The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) at the University of Pittsburgh is an academic research center focused on developing vaccines and novel therapeutics against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The center provides research infrastructure including BSL-2, BSL-2+, and BSL-3/3+ laboratory facilities, animal biosafety level 3 laboratories, and the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. CVR conducts vaccine trials, pathogen research (including coronavirus, influenza, tuberculosis, arboviruses, and other pathogens), and offers research collaboration opportunities rather than commercial products or services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL)
Quantifiable outcome
- First US lab to receive SARS-CoV-2 samples in February 2020
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Center for Vaccine Research
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Center for Vaccine Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Center for Vaccine Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Washington University School of MedicinecoreCo-authored research on LDLRAD3 as a receptor for Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. William Klimstra at CVR replicated findings using authentic virulent VEEV. Collaboration on decoy molecule drug development for mosquito-borne encephalitis viruses.
- Penn State Huck Institutes of the Life SciencesminorDr. Suresh Kuchipudi previously held position as Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair Professor in Emerging Infectious Diseases at Penn State before joining CVR. Research collaboration on zoonotic virus transmission and surveillance.
- Aeras Global TB Vaccine FoundationcoreDr. Charles Scanga previously worked as Senior Scientist at Aeras coordinating and conducting studies to evaluate immunogenicity and protective efficacy of tuberculosis vaccine candidates using mouse, guinea pig, and non-human primate models.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreDr. Amy Hartman completed postdoctoral fellowship in Special Pathogens Branch at CDC. Worked on Ebola Zaire virus virulence factors and Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever outbreak response. Current collaboration on pandemic preparedness.
- University of Maryland-BaltimoreminorCollaboration with Dr. Eileen Barry on tularemia vaccine research using attenuated strains of Francisella tularensis in New Zealand White rabbit model.
- Albany Medical CollegeminorCollaboration with Dr. Karsten Hazlett on antibody and cell-mediated immune responses in tularemia rabbit models, exploring immune correlates of protection.
- Barratt-Boyes Laboratory, GSPHcoreDeveloped first nonhuman primate model of lethal acute respiratory disease syndrome following H5N1 infection. Ongoing collaboration on universal flu vaccine and broadly-neutralizing antibody testing.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Center for Vaccine Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute: San Antonio-based independent research institute operating one of the few BSL-4 laboratories in the US and conducting infectious disease and vaccine research. Comparable high-containment infrastructure and emerging pathogen portfolio.
- Wistar Institute: Independent biomedical research institute affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania focused on vaccine and infectious disease research. Directly comparable to CVR as a non-university vaccine/immunology research hub with BSL facilities, multiple NIH-funded PIs, and a translational research mandate.
- Trudeau Institute: Independent immunology and infectious disease research institute with animal model expertise for tuberculosis and respiratory pathogens. Directly comparable as an academic-style research organization studying immune correlates of protection.
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology: Independent research institute focused on immunology and vaccine science with strong NIH funding and postdoctoral training programs. Comparable academic-style research model and infectious disease focus.
- Emory Vaccine Center: Yerkes-affiliated vaccine research center at Emory University with strong BSL-3/ABSL-3 capabilities for HIV, influenza, and emerging pathogens. Comparable in scope, faculty breadth, and federal funding profile.
- Harvard Medical School Center for Virology and Vaccine Research: Harvard-based vaccine research center with BSL-2/3 capabilities working on HIV, TB, and emerging infections. Comparable in mission and funding sources, though embedded within a larger medical school ecosystem.
- University of Maryland Center for Vaccine Development: University-based vaccine R&D center conducting clinical and translational vaccine research against infectious diseases including influenza, malaria, and emerging pathogens. Closest peer to CVR in mission, federal funding mix, and BSL-2/3 lab infrastructure.
- Baylor College of Medicine - Vaccine Research: Academic vaccine research program at Baylor College of Medicine with BSL capabilities and NIH-funded investigators working on infectious diseases. Highly comparable as a university-based vaccine R&D center.
Broad incumbents
- Scripps Research - Immunology and Microbiology: Large independent research organization with substantial immunology, virology, and vaccine discovery programs. Comparable mission but operates at significantly broader scale across multiple disease areas.
- NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories: Federal research laboratory with BSL-4 capabilities conducting basic and applied research on viral and bacterial pathogens including VEEV, EEEV, and influenza. Operates at much larger scale than CVR with core federal appropriations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Center for Vaccine Research social profiles
Digital presenceCenter for Vaccine Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center for Vaccine Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Center for Vaccine Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Center for Vaccine Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Center for Vaccine Research
What does Center for Vaccine Research do?
The Center for Vaccine Research (CVR) at the University of Pittsburgh conducts vaccine and novel therapeutic research against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. It operates specialized BSL-2, BSL-2+, and BSL-3/3+ biocontainment laboratories including the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) registered for select agent work, providing end-to-end research capabilities from molecular biology through animal models to human cohort studies, with particular emphasis on respiratory and vector-borne pathogens.
Is Center for Vaccine Research a public or private company?
Center for Vaccine Research is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Center for Vaccine Research founded?
Center for Vaccine Research was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Center for Vaccine Research based?
Center for Vaccine Research is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Center for Vaccine Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Texas Biomedical Research Institute, Wistar Institute, Trudeau Institute, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Harvard Medical School Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, University of Maryland Center for Vaccine Development and Baylor College of Medicine - Vaccine Research. Broad incumbents are Scripps Research - Immunology and Microbiology and NIH/NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories.
Does Center for Vaccine Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center for Vaccine Research.
What industry is Center for Vaccine Research in?
Center for Vaccine Research's product category is Academic Vaccine Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAEAC, Infectious Disease & Pandemic Preparedness Vaccines (emerging pathogens), with a secondary code of HLAAAEAK, Clinical Development & Regulatory for Vaccines (trials, pharmacovigilance, lot release). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.