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Influenza remains a major problem causing significant morbidity and mortality annually and periodic pandemics with the potential for 10-100 fold increased mortality. Conventional vaccines can be highly effective if generated each year to match currently circulating viruses. Ongoing research focuses on producing cross-protective vaccines that induce T cell and/ or antibody responses specific for highly conserved viral epitopes. The Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development (SLUCVD) is highly engaged in multiple efforts to generate universally relevant influenza vaccines.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and tuberculosis (TB) disease are major public health problems. Available BCG vaccines are partially effective against severe disease, but have not reduced the overall prevalence of TB infection and disease. A third of the world's population is latently infected with Mtb, and therefore more effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are urgently needed. The Hoft laboratory and the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development (SLUCVD) are actively pursuing these important goals.