Engineering vCCI to change how it binds chemokines
Official title: Engineering vCCI Binding Specificity for Chemokines via Combined Computational and Experimental Approaches
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11424244 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study a viral protein called vCCI that can calm inflammation and explore how to tweak its binding to inflammation signals to potentially help conditions like arthritis and asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $121,278 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AI201141-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424244 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with inflammatory conditions like arthritis, asthma, or brain injury where inflammatory processes play a role.
✕Less likely to help
People without inflammatory conditions or those not involved in related clinical studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses computer simulations and lab experiments to understand how the viral protein vCCI interacts with chemokines, which drive inflammation. By designing engineered vCCI variants, the team aims to change which chemokines it binds to and how strongly, guiding future therapeutic ideas. The work combines molecular dynamics simulations with real-world testing of protein variants using methods such as NMR, fluorescence, and biolayer interferometry to map binding details at the amino-acid level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new anti-inflammatory tools or therapies for inflammatory diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that modifying protein interactions can alter binding specificity, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liwang, Patricia J — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Liwang, Patricia J
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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.