Creating woodchucks that can be infected by hepatitis B virus
Official title: Developing Woodchucks Susceptible to Hepatitis B Virus Infection by Modifying the Virus or Host
Funded at Georgetown University · NIH-10912912 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a new way to study hepatitis B using woodchucks, which will help researchers learn more about the virus and find better treatments for people living with it.
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 start | July 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $820,940 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI183788-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912912 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research are individuals suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection who may benefit from new antiviral therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hepatitis B who are not eligible for new treatments or those who do not have chronic infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a new animal model using woodchucks that can be infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is crucial for understanding the virus and testing new treatments. The researchers will modify either the virus or the woodchuck host to facilitate productive HBV infection. By using this model, they hope to gain insights into HBV persistence and improve the development of antiviral therapies. This work is essential as current animal models do not adequately represent HBV infection in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better treatments for chronic hepatitis B infection, improving patient outcomes and potentially reducing liver disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using modified animal models to study viral infections, indicating that this approach has potential for breakthroughs in hepatitis B treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgetown University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menne, Stephan — Georgetown University
- Study coordinator: Menne, Stephan
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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.