Biophysical study of how respiroviruses attach and fuse with membranes
Official title: Investigation of the biophysical mechanisms and membrane determinants ofrespirovirus binding and fusion using artificial lipid membranes and isolatedphysiological membranes as targets
Funded at Williams College · NIH-11444245 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how respiroviruses stick to and fuse with human-like membranes to uncover ways to prevent infections in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Williams College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Williamstown, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $486,597 |
| NIH project number | 2R15AI171754-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444245 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are researchers and clinicians interested in respiratory viruses and biophysical methods, plus patients indirectly benefited through future antiviral or vaccine development.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not described in this grant, so there may be no immediate benefits for individual patients.
What this research studies
This project uses model lipid membranes and isolated membranes to observe, at the level of individual virus particles, how binding and membrane fusion occur for respiroviruses. The work focuses on the initial steps of infection and aims to uncover fundamental physical mechanisms that could inform future antiviral strategies. By combining single-virus measurements with membrane mimics, the study seeks clues that could lead to new approaches for preventing respiratory infections in kids. The findings could also enhance the utility of Sendai virus as a research tool and vector in biomedical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how respiroviruses initiate infection could guide the development of targeted therapies or vaccines for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using model membranes and single-virus assays have yielded important mechanistic insights in other viruses, suggesting potential applicability to respiroviruses.
Where this research is happening
-
Williams College
Williamstown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rawle, Robert J. — Williams College
- Study coordinator: Rawle, Robert J.
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.