Center study of emerging viruses in ticks, animals, and people across the Midwest and Asia
Official title: Center for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases - Epidemiology, Surveillance and Pathogenesis
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11612504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national and international effort will study emerging viruses in ticks, animals, and people in the Midwest U.S. and sites in Hong Kong, Nepal, and Korea to understand spread and risk to Americans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | May 11, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $71,820 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI151810-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11612504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals in or near the study sites who have unexplained fever or respiratory illness, especially if they have contact with animals or ticks, and anyone contributing blood samples for serology.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without exposure or involvement in sample collection may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will collect samples from ticks and animals near humans and enroll people with respiratory illness or fever to see how viruses move between animals and people. Researchers will map which viruses are present, how common they are, and how antibodies appear in people to gauge prior exposure. The work combines field sampling, syndromic surveillance, and serology to build a clearer picture of viral spillover risk. It focuses on tick-borne viruses like Heartland and Bourbon viruses and on respiratory coronaviruses that might jump from animals to humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of where and how emerging viruses spread could lead to earlier warnings and targeted protections for people at risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has identified tick-borne and respiratory viruses in animal and human populations, with growing evidence of cross-species transmission.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, David — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Wang, David
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.