Creating a resource of bats to study infectious diseases
Official title: Establishment of a Bat Resource for Infectious Disease Research
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-10933384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about caring for horseshoe bats and Indian flying foxes to learn how certain viruses affect them and could potentially impact human health, so scientists can better understand these viruses and develop ways to fight them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,266,918 |
| NIH project number | 5R24AI165424-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include researchers and scientists studying infectious diseases and zoonotic viruses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in infectious disease research or do not have a direct interest in zoonotic viruses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on capturing and establishing breeding colonies of horseshoe bats and Indian flying foxes, which are known reservoirs for various zoonotic viruses. The bats will be quarantined and cared for to adapt to captivity, allowing researchers to study how these viruses infect bat cells and affect their immune responses. The project will also produce essential cell cultures, cytokines, and monoclonal antibodies to aid in the understanding of these viruses and their interactions with the immune system. This work aims to provide valuable resources for scientists investigating viral infections that can impact human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention of zoonotic diseases that can affect humans.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using animal models to study zoonotic viruses, making this approach promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schountz, William a — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Schountz, William a
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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.