Developing woodchucks that can be infected with hepatitis B by tweaking the virus or the host
Official title: Developing Woodchucks Susceptible to Hepatitis B Virus Infection by Modifying the Virus or Host
Funded at Georgetown University · NIH-11361668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers at Georgetown University are exploring new ways to make woodchucks susceptible to hepatitis B infection to better study the virus and test future treatments.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $799,541 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183788-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; the study is in animals and cell models to advance HBV drug development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with HBV would not participate in this study or receive direct interventions at this stage.
What this research studies
HBV affects hundreds of millions and causes serious liver disease. This project uses a modified HBV or a modified woodchuck host to establish infection in woodchucks, a model organism currently limited for HBV drug testing. By validating that the virus or host can support HBV-like infection, the study aims to enable clearer preclinical evaluation of antiviral drugs. The work combines cell culture and animal studies to understand infection mechanics and drug response in a relevant vivo system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could accelerate the development and preclinical testing of new HBV antivirals, potentially shortening the path to effective therapies for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models have advanced HBV research, but HBV-specific infection in woodchucks remains challenging; this project seeks to overcome those limitations.
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.