Enhancing deer mice as a disease research model for Lyme disease, hantavirus, and SARS-CoV-2
Official title: Enhancing the utility of deer mice as an infectious disease model
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11335694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant funds improving a deer mouse research community resource to better study infectious diseases that affect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $511,424 |
| NIH project number | 5R24AI186970-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Researchers and laboratories that work with deer mice and infectious disease models would benefit, with future translational potential for human health.
✕Less likely to help
There is no direct patient participation in this grant, as it focuses on animal model resources and infrastructure.
What this research studies
Deer mice are key models in infectious disease research because they carry pathogens like Lyme disease bacteria, hantaviruses, and SARS-CoV-2. This project aims to strengthen the breeding program at the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, create deer-mouse specific antibodies, and upgrade the digital databases that track deer mouse pedigrees and research availability. By improving breeding efficiency, reagent availability, and data access, researchers can more quickly use deer mice to study human pathogens and potential interventions. The work is designed to be sustained beyond the grant period to support ongoing disease studies. The University of South Carolina leads the effort with long-standing expertise and infrastructure in this mouse model.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could accelerate biomedical studies using deer mice to understand infectious diseases and test treatments or vaccines.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work at the PGSC has established deer mouse lines and research utility; this grant aims to expand and optimize those capabilities.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiaris, Hippokratis — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Kiaris, Hippokratis
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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.