Dizziness and balance problems after Lassa fever
Balance Dysfunction Induced by Lassa Virus Infection
This project looks at why some people who recover from Lassa fever later get sudden hearing loss, dizziness, and trouble with balance by using a mouse model to find ways to prevent or treat those problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176249 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will infect mice with Lassa virus to study how the inner ear and balance system change over time and cause dizziness or imbalance. They will measure balance behavior (for example using rotarod tests) and examine vestibular tissues under the microscope at multiple time points from days to months after infection. The team will also test different treatment or prevention approaches in the mouse model to see which work best for restoring balance. The goal is to use what they learn in mice to guide development of prevention and treatment strategies for people who develop vestibular problems after viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who recovered from Lassa fever and now have new sudden hearing loss, dizziness, or balance problems would be the most relevant patients for this research and any future trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose balance problems are clearly due to non-viral causes or long-standing vestibular conditions unrelated to recent infection may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or treat dizziness and balance loss after Lassa fever and potentially after other post-viral vestibular injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked some viruses to sudden hearing loss and vestibular symptoms, but using a Lassa fever mouse model to define the molecular causes and test treatments is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makishima, Tomoko — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Makishima, Tomoko
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 below.