The Single Shield Prize is an $80+ million competition to advance single-administration vaccine platforms for pandemic influenza A(H5N1). The prize calls for innovative solutions enabling the development of vaccines that could provide protection in only one visit.
About the prize
Addressing a critical health challenge
Pandemic influenza A(H5N1) is a virus that can rapidly mutate. As it evolves, variants could adapt to spread more widely within mammalian and human populations, increasing its potential to cause a pandemic. An influenza pandemic could place significant strain on health care systems.
Currently, all approved vaccines for pandemic influenza A(H5N1) — and many vaccines for viral infectious diseases — require two or more administrations to achieve strong and durable immunity. Reducing the number of doses needed to achieve immunity can help control disease spread during pandemics.
The opportunity for single-administration vaccines
Advancing single-administration pandemic influenza A(H5N1) vaccines is a strategic investment that addresses a specific, high-consequence threat while potentially yielding innovative platforms applicable to other diseases.
Single-administration vaccines can improve public health and safety by:
- Enabling greater immunization capacity with finite manufacturing resources.
- Reducing the resource burden on health care systems.
- Removing barriers to completing vaccination while achieving protection on a shorter timeline.
These benefits are particularly valuable during a pandemic when resources are limited and speed is critical.
Accelerating vaccine innovation
The Single Shield Prize calls for innovative solutions enabling the development of vaccines that could provide protection in only one visit.
The competition specifically focuses on innovations for recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA) protein or inactivated virus vaccines, including but not limited to novel vaccine formulations, antigen presentation, controlled release technologies, and vaccine delivery methods. By building on established influenza vaccine platforms, the competition targets innovations grounded in proven approaches.
Why participate?
Eligible vaccine developers and researchers, biotech companies, and other innovators can compete for more than $80 million in awards while gaining access to technical support and opportunities to connect with collaborators, industry partners, and potential investors.
The Prize also provides facilitated networking through activities at a Proposers’ Day, select industry conferences, and Demo Day presentations for select teams.
Teaming opportunities
Teaming collaborations between diverse innovators are encouraged to help advance the development of a single-administration pandemic influenza A(H5N1) vaccine. Entrants interested in forming teams can share a participant profile to connect with potential collaborators.
Award information
The Single Shield Prize expects to award $80+ million in prizes across three stages.
Award information
Stage 0
Concept Stage
Total prize pool $32 million. Up to eight winners will have the opportunity to receive up to $4 million each.
Stage 1
Nonclinical Proof of Concept
Total prize pool $32 million. Up to four winners will have the opportunity to receive up to $8 million each.
Stage 2
Investigational New Drug (IND) Readiness
Award details will be released prior to launch of the stage, anticipated mid-2029.
Awards under the prize will be paid by electronic funds transfer and may be subject to federal income taxes. The prize administrators will comply with the Internal Revenue Service withholding and reporting requirements, where applicable.
Luminary Labs reserves the right to reallocate unawarded funding at its discretion, including but not limited to redistributing funds and making additional awards at any stage of the competition.
Prize overview: stage details
Structured across three stages, the Single Shield Prize will advance promising solutions from concept through nonclinical development towards an Investigational New Drug application.
Stage 0: Concept Stage
The Concept Stage invites eligible entrants to submit concept papers detailing their proposed single-administration vaccine approaches for pandemic influenza A(H5N1). The concept paper should outline the innovative technical approach and its feasibility to advance a safe, tolerable, and efficacious single-administration vaccine. It should address key considerations for product development and formulation, nonclinical evaluation, regulatory engagement, and manufacturing.
While entrants may submit more than one Concept Stage entry, each Primary Entrant or entrant team can only receive one award per stage.
Declarations of Intent (DOIs)
Prospective entrants must first submit a DOI and be approved to participate in the Concept Stage. The DOI will collect basic entrant information and a short description of the proposed vaccine candidate. DOIs will be reviewed on a rolling basis until January 5, 2027. Eligible entrants with in-scope vaccine candidates will be invited to submit a concept paper.
Concept papers
Approved entrants can submit a concept paper describing their proposed vaccine candidate and plan for nonclinical development and evaluation toward submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application, aligned with the Desired Product Attributes. Review the evaluation criteria and submission instructions for further guidance on what should be included in a Concept Stage submission.
At the end of the Concept Stage, winners may be invited to showcase their proposed vaccine candidate at a Demo Day with the judging panel, industry leaders, and potential collaborators.
To receive a Concept stage award, entrants must declare their intent to use the award funds to perform activities that support Stage 1 completion.
Stage 1: Nonclinical Proof of Concept
Stage 1 is open to Concept Stage winners and new entrants who meet the eligibility requirements. New entrants must first submit a DOI and be approved before they can submit a Stage 1 technical paper.
Stage 1 aims to identify promising single-administration vaccine candidates that demonstrate the technical feasibility of achieving immune response and protection equivalent or superior to that of a conventional two-dose vaccine. Stage 1 calls on entrants to submit a technical paper detailing the research conducted on the vaccine candidate across formulation, delivery, antigen, and adjuvant (where relevant), with supporting data. At the end of Stage 1, the vaccine candidate should be ready to move towards IND-enabling studies.
While entrants may submit more than one Stage 1 entry, each Primary Entrant or entrant team is limited to one award per stage.
Further Stage 1 details will be published prior to the launch of Stage 1.
Declarations of intent
New entrants must first submit a DOI by providing a summary of their proposed vaccine candidate and planned nonclinical studies. Plans must be aligned with the Desired Product Attributes and outline the steps of nonclinical product development and evaluation that would support a future Investigational New Drug (IND) application that meets FDA requirements.
Technical papers
Concept Stage winners and approved entrants can submit technical papers detailing completed Stage 1 activities as soon as they become available during the submission period. Technical papers should include data from nonclinical studies assessing immunogenicity, breadth, efficacy, durability, and safety in line with the Desired Product Attributes.
At the end of Stage 1, winners may be invited to showcase their proposed vaccine candidates at a Demo Day event.
To receive a Stage 1 award, winners must declare their intent to use the amount awarded to perform activities that support Stage 2 completion.
Stage 2: Investigational New Drug (IND) Readiness
Winners who accept Stage 1 awards will be eligible to progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2 supports the critical transition from research-grade proof of concept to regulatory-grade drug product ready for clinical investigation. Entrants must demonstrate manufacturing scalability, product consistency, and regulatory compliance to validate their nonclinical drug asset for human testing.
Detailed Stage 2 requirements and evaluation criteria will be published prior to the launch of Stage 2.
Entrants will be required to submit an IND application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide evidence of filing, as well as a comprehensive data package describing manufacturing capabilities and regulatory compliance outcomes based on prize-specific requirements.
To receive a Stage 2 award, entrants must:
- Submit evidence that the IND application has been completed and filed with the FDA.
- Provide supporting information on manufacturing capabilities and regulatory readiness.
- Declare their intent to use the amount awarded toward execution of a Phase 1 clinical trial.
At the conclusion of Stage 2, the winner may be invited to showcase their proposed vaccine candidate at a Demo Day event.
Join the September 9 informational webinar
Register for the informational webinar to hear an overview of the prize, scientific scope, and key details for potential entrants. Webinar attendees will also have an opportunity to submit questions in advance.