Creating new treatments for Venezuelan equine encephalitic virus infection
Developing capsid-importin alpha inhibitors for the treatment of VEEV infection
This study is working on new medicines to help people infected with the Venezuelan equine encephalitic virus (VEEV), which can lead to serious brain problems, by blocking the virus from spreading in the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Mason University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138541 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antiviral therapies for Venezuelan equine encephalitic virus (VEEV), which can cause severe neurological issues in humans. The approach involves creating small molecule inhibitors that block the interaction between the virus's capsid protein and host proteins, which is crucial for the virus's ability to replicate and cause disease. By disrupting this interaction, the research aims to reduce viral replication and improve patient outcomes. The study is particularly important as there are currently no effective antiviral treatments available for VEEV infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been infected with Venezuelan equine encephalitic virus or are at high risk of infection.
Not a fit: Patients who are not infected with VEEV or do not have a risk of exposure to the virus may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective antiviral treatments for patients infected with VEEV, potentially reducing the severity of the disease and improving survival rates.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in targeting the capsid-importin interaction for VEEV, similar strategies have shown promise in developing antiviral therapies for other viral infections.
Where this research is happening
Fairfax, United States
- George Mason University — Fairfax, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paige, Mikell — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Paige, Mikell
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.