Developing new antiviral therapies for cytomegalovirus infections
Official title: Targeting Feedback Circuitry for Antiviral Therapy
Funded at Autonomous Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11181230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new antiviral treatments for cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can be a serious problem for people with weakened immune systems, and aims to create medicines that stay effective even as the virus changes, helping to reduce complications from CMV infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Autonomous Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Silver Spring, United States) |
| Project start | December 11, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,510,374 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI180651-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include immunocompromised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients or those with certain birth defects related to CMV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not immunocompromised or do not have a history of cytomegalovirus infection may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding new antiviral treatments for cytomegalovirus (CMV), a virus that affects over half of the global population and poses serious risks, especially for immunocompromised individuals. The team aims to disrupt the virus's feedback mechanisms that allow it to survive and replicate, potentially leading to more effective therapies that can overcome the issue of viral resistance. By targeting specific viral circuits, the research seeks to create antivirals that maintain their effectiveness even as the virus evolves. Patients may benefit from these new treatments, which could reduce the risk of complications from CMV infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective antiviral therapies that significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cytomegalovirus infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting viral feedback mechanisms, suggesting that this approach could lead to significant advancements in antiviral therapies.
Where this research is happening
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Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
Silver Spring, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinberger, Leor S — Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Weinberger, Leor S
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.