Collecting and analyzing biological samples to understand the human virome.
Official title: Biospecimen Collection Core
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10990013 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for healthy volunteers to help us gather samples from different parts of the body, like your mouth and gut, so we can learn more about the viruses that live in us and how they change over time, which could help improve our understanding of overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,348,828 |
| NIH project number | 1U54AG089323-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10990013 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include generally healthy children and adults who can provide biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with existing health conditions or those who do not meet the criteria for healthy participants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on collecting high-quality biological samples from healthy participants to study the human virome, which includes the collection of specimens from various biological niches such as oral, respiratory, gut, and blood. The project aims to engage participants that represent the average health status of the population, ensuring that the samples are rigorously collected, stored, and managed. By analyzing these samples, researchers hope to uncover relationships among virome communities and how they evolve over time, contributing to a better understanding of human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant insights into the human virome, potentially improving health outcomes and informing future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding microbial communities through similar biospecimen collection approaches, indicating a promising avenue for this investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collman, Ronald G — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Collman, Ronald G
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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.