Disrupting CMV's control switch to stop infection
Official title: Targeting Feedback Circuitry for Antiviral Therapy
Funded at Autonomous Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-10999435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antiviral approach aims to force cytomegalovirus to overproduce a toxic viral protein so the virus can't keep growing, which could help transplant patients, people with weakened immunity, and pregnant people at risk of passing CMV to their baby.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,510,374 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include organ or stem-cell transplant recipients, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant people at risk of congenital CMV.
✕Less likely to help
People without CMV exposure or with unrelated infections are unlikely to benefit directly from this research in the near term.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one are at risk from CMV, this project tries to stop the virus by breaking a viral 'feedback' circuit that normally keeps a key viral protein under control. By forcing the virus to overproduce that protein, infected cells become damaged and the virus can't replicate as well. Researchers will test compounds and laboratory models to find ways to open this feedback loop and measure how easily the virus can mutate around the approach. The goal is to develop antivirals that stay effective longer for people such as transplant recipients or pregnant people at risk of congenital CMV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to antivirals that remain effective despite viral mutation, lowering CMV-related transplant failure and birth defects.
How similar studies have gone: This feedback-disruption strategy is relatively new for CMV, though prior laboratory studies by the team showed strong antiviral effects in models.
Where this research is happening
-
Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
Silver Spring, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinberger, Leor S — Autonomous Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Weinberger, Leor S
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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.