Decoding the sulfation code to study how selective sugar patterns affect viral protein binding
Official title: Decoding the Sulfation Code: Selectively Sulfated Glycomacromolecules as Tools to Investigate Viral Protein-Carbohydrate Recognition
Funded at Davidson College · NIH-11361189 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers at Davidson College are exploring precisely patterned sugar molecules to understand and potentially block how viruses stick to human cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Davidson College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davidson, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $487,727 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM164973-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361189 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be individuals with conditions affected by HIV or related viral infections, or those contributing biospecimens for related translational studies, depending on future directions.
✕Less likely to help
The current work is primarily basic science in the lab and may not provide direct patient benefits during early phases.
What this research studies
This project uses synthetic and semisynthetic glycans with exact sulfation patterns to probe how heparan sulfate proteoglycans interact with viruses such as HIV and coronaviruses. By creating defined sugar structures, the team aims to map which sulfation patterns influence viral attachment and entry. The work could reveal new ways to study virus-host interactions and identify targets for antiviral strategies in a controlled, human-relevant context. The grant supports a focused, chemistry-driven approach to unravel the sulfation code and its role in viral infection, with potential downstream relevance to therapeutic development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to better understanding of how viruses attach to cells and inform new antiviral approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that defined sulfation patterns can influence virus binding, supporting potential success with this targeted approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Davidson College
Davidson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Snyder-Lee, Nicole Leigh — Davidson College
- Study coordinator: Snyder-Lee, Nicole Leigh
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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.