Nature of Business (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 13, 2021 USD ($)
Nature of business:
Operating segments | segment	2
Accumulated deficit	$ (210,114,128)		$ (205,765,107)
Net loss	(4,349,021)	$ (2,362,478)
Net cash used in operating activities	(3,238,843)	$ (3,985,227)
Cash and cash equivalents	22,875,679		26,043,897
Cash and cash equivalents, increase (decrease)	$ 3,168,218
Percentage change in cash and cash equivalent	12.00%
Working capital	$ 16,250,494		20,278,345
Working capital increase, decrease	$ 4,027,851
Working capital increase (decrease) as a percent	20.00%
Grants Receivable, Current	$ 123,692		$ 138,889
FBR Sales Agreement
Nature of business:
Borrowing capacity				$ 26,800,000
CiVax
Nature of business:
Revenue from collaborative arrangement	$ 1,500,000
Term (in years)	two years
NIH
Nature of business:
Grants Receivable, Current	$ 1,200,000
NIAID | Contract revenue
Nature of business:
Revenue from collaborative arrangement	$ 700,000
Term (in years)	five years
DTRA | Contract revenue
Nature of business:
Revenue from collaborative arrangement	$ 600,000
Term (in years)	three years