Finding new treatments for a dangerous mosquito-borne virus.
Official title: Discovery of Bunyaviral Endonuclease Inhibitors for Anti Viral
Funded at Microbiotix, INC · NIH-11184904 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new antiviral medicines to help fight the Rift Valley Fever Virus, which can make people very sick, by creating tiny molecules that stop the virus from spreading, since there are no approved treatments or vaccines for it yet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Microbiotix, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $977,449 |
| NIH project number | 2R42AI165102-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184904 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of RVFV infection, particularly those living in or traveling to endemic regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of RVFV infection or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antiviral medications specifically targeting the Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), which can cause severe illness in humans. The approach involves creating small molecule inhibitors that can block the virus's endonuclease, an essential enzyme for its replication. By optimizing a promising compound identified through high-throughput screening, the research aims to provide effective prophylactic and therapeutic options for RVFV infections. This work is crucial as there are currently no FDA-approved treatments or vaccines available for this virus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective antiviral treatments for RVFV, potentially saving lives and preventing outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: While antiviral research for other viruses has shown promise, this specific approach targeting RVFV is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Microbiotix, INC
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Gai — Microbiotix, INC
- Study coordinator: Liu, Gai
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.