Animal and organoid models to test new antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and related viruses
Official title: Animal and Organoid Model Core
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11542052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national research grant supports scientists at Scripps to develop and use animal and organoid models to screen and study new antiviral medicines for COVID-19 and similar viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | May 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,148,756 |
| NIH project number | 4U19AI171443-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11542052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for this core grant itself; related patient benefits rely on downstream clinical development and trials of antiviral drugs identified using these models.
✕Less likely to help
Patients enrolled in future trials may not benefit if candidates fail in later stages or if approved drugs are not suitable for certain individuals.
What this research studies
This project provides advanced animal and lab-grown tissue models to test promising antiviral compounds. Researchers will use these models to understand how candidate drugs behave in living systems and to identify effective treatments before clinical trials. The work is focused on preparing and validating models that can quickly screen potential antivirals for future outbreaks. It aims to accelerate the move from lab discovery to drugs that could help patients during the next pandemic.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this core could speed the identification of effective antivirals for COVID-19 and related viruses, potentially reducing illness and deaths in future outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models and organoids have helped identify promising antivirals, but there is ongoing need to validate their predictive value for humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teijaro, John Ross — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Teijaro, John Ross
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.