Creating Better Animal Models for Hepatitis B Drug Development
Developing Woodchucks Susceptible to Hepatitis B Virus Infection by Modifying the Virus or Host
This research aims to improve animal models for Hepatitis B virus to help develop new treatments for people living with chronic infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgetown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140498 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects millions worldwide and can lead to severe liver disease, with current treatments having a low cure rate. A major challenge in finding better drugs is the lack of good animal models that fully mimic human HBV infection. This project is working to overcome this by modifying either the Hepatitis B virus or the woodchuck host, an animal naturally infected with a similar virus, to create a more accurate model for testing new medications. By developing a better model, scientists hope to speed up the discovery of effective new antiviral therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with chronic Hepatitis B infection are the ultimate beneficiaries of this foundational research.
Not a fit: Patients will not receive direct, immediate benefit from this foundational animal model development work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective antiviral drugs for chronic Hepatitis B, improving cure rates and reducing liver disease progression for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data from this team suggest that modified viruses can infect woodchuck cells, indicating a promising, though novel, approach.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- Georgetown University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menne, Stephan — Georgetown University
- Study coordinator: Menne, Stephan
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 below.