Hamster model to study hepatitis B virus infection
Official title: Development of a hamster model for hepatitis B virus infection
Funded at Utah State University · NIH-11385270 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is creating a hamster-based model to study how hepatitis B virus infects and persists in the liver, with the goal of helping develop better treatments and cures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Logan, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $718,533 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183883-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385270 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; this is a preclinical model development project.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation; the work involves laboratory animal research and cell systems.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop and validate a hamster hepatocyte system that supports HBV infection and the full viral life cycle, including cccDNA formation. By using Ad-HBV and related methods, the study seeks to overcome limitations of current animal models that don’t fully replicate human HBV biology. The work could provide a more accurate way to test potential therapies and understand how HBV persists in the body. If successful, the model could accelerate translational research toward functional cures for chronic HBV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A more faithful animal model could speed the discovery and testing of new therapies that may lead to a functional cure for HBV.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical models that better mimic HBV biology have shown promise, but a robust non-human model capable of supporting cccDNA formation is still a key gap.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State University
Logan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhongde — Utah State University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhongde
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HBV cure clues in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific B and T cell responses relate to curing hepatitis B in people with and without HIV.
-
HBV cure factors in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific immune cells behave during treatment and whether people with HIV respond differently than those without HIV.
-
HBV prevention in community pharmacies: a first step in a low-resource setting
This pilot project tests whether hepatitis B screening and vaccination can be integrated into everyday community pharmacy services to reach more people.
-
Blood markers to catch early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
This project will see if a blood test can find liver cancer earlier in Hispanic people who have chronic hepatitis B.
-
Early blood markers to find hepatitis B–related liver cancer in Hispanics
This project will use immune-related blood markers to find liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, focusing on Hispanic adults.
-
HBV safety with long-acting HIV therapy for people with HIV
A study to understand how long-acting HIV meds affect hepatitis B in people living with HIV and how to best monitor and protect them.
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.