Frequently Asked Questions about the DIVINCI study

DIVINCI is the Dissection of Influenza Vaccination and Infection for Childhood Immunity study.

Learn more about the DIVINCI study.

Influenza, also called the flu, is a respiratory virus that causes seasonal illness. Influenza viruses can be categorized into subtypes (or strains) depending on certain characteristics. The different strains co-circulate causing illness. 

Find more information on influenza at cdc.gov/flu.

The main goal of the DIVINCI influenza study is to better understand the immune system’s response to the flu and influenza vaccination. With this information, we can help develop more effective and longer-lasting flu vaccines.

DIVINCI helps scientists look at a diverse set of human populations to ask important questions about the immune response. The study includes three geographically distinct enrollment sites. A group of world-renowned scientists, including immunologists, virologists and computational biologists, are working together to plan and carry out studies with these unique cohorts. The study is unique because it is a “birth cohort”. This means we are able to capture information from when a child develops their first influenza infection or receives a influenza vaccine. We also follow them throughout childhood to see how their immune response develops.

Participants are currently being enrolled in three locations:

• Wellington, New Zealand - Lead Maternity Center and ESR
• Managua, Nicaragua - Health Center Sócrates Flores Vivas
• Los Angeles, California - Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

If you enroll as a participant, your study site will give you specific instructions. Overall, we will monitor your child’s flu-like illness for up to seven years. During this time, you will provide information through regular surveys and an annual blood sample. Depending on your study site, when your child is sick or has an annual influenza vaccination, you may need to provide additional samples and clinical information.

Aside from the cohort sites, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., are leading the international study. In addition, collaborators at University of Wisconsin, University of Chicago, Stanford University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Washington University, Emory, University of Rochester and University of Melbourne are involved in the study and will be processing samples from enrolled patients.