Finding new drugs to fight Ebola by targeting a specific viral protein.
Official title: High throughput screening and drug discovery for antagonists of the Ebola VP40 protein assembly
Funded at Oyagen, INC. · NIH-10904764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new medicines to help fight Ebola by testing a huge number of small compounds to see which ones can stop a key part of the virus from working, aiming to find quick treatments that can help patients during outbreaks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oyagen, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $298,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AI179320-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10904764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are infected with the Ebola virus or are at high risk during an outbreak.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with the Ebola virus or those who do not live in outbreak regions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing antiviral treatments for Ebola by screening a large library of small molecules to identify those that can inhibit the Ebola VP40 protein, which is crucial for the virus's ability to replicate and spread. The approach involves high-content screening techniques that allow for the rapid testing of approximately 123,000 compounds to find effective antagonists. By targeting the VP40 protein, the goal is to create a fast-acting therapy that does not rely on the immune system, potentially improving survival rates for patients during outbreaks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of a new antiviral therapy that significantly improves survival rates for Ebola patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting viral proteins for drug development, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Oyagen, INC.
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bennett, Ryan P — Oyagen, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bennett, Ryan P
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.