Finding All Kinds of Viruses in Human Samples
Establishing laboratory methods for quantitative recovery of diverse DNA and RNA viral sequences from human biosamples
This project is creating new lab and computer tools to help us find and understand all the different viruses living in human bodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195650 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The current ways to find viruses in people's bodies aren't always accurate or complete, so our team is working on new lab techniques and computer programs to get a clearer picture of all the viruses present. We've had success with similar methods in soil, and early results show they work well with human stool samples too. First, we will fine-tune how we collect and prepare human stool samples to make sure we catch all types of DNA and RNA viruses. Then, we will compare these new techniques using samples from a group of people over time to see how well they work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work does not directly involve patient participation, but future studies using these improved methods might seek individuals with specific viral infections or conditions.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical care will not find it in this foundational methods development project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a much clearer understanding of how viruses in our bodies impact our health and contribute to various conditions.
How similar studies have performed: The research team has successfully used similar methods to understand viruses in soil, and preliminary data suggests these techniques will also work well for human samples.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Emerson, Joanne — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Emerson, Joanne
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.