How alphaviruses get into the brain
Official title: Viral and host factors in neuroinvasion of encephalitis alphaviruses
Funded at University of Western Ontario · NIH-11111331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how mosquito-borne encephalitis viruses enter and spread in the brain to help people affected by alphavirus infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Western Ontario NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, Canada) |
| Project start | July 5, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $521,574 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI160188-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had or are at risk of Venezuelan, eastern, or western equine encephalitis infection, or survivors with ongoing neurological symptoms, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with unrelated infections or conditions, or those not exposed to alphaviruses, are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I'm someone at risk for or recovering from encephalitic alphavirus infection, this work focuses on Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses and how they invade the central nervous system. The team studies how viral elements (like the 3'UTR) and host cells — including blood-brain barrier endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and immune sentinel cells — influence entry and spread. Researchers use molecular virology, cell-based experiments, and animal and tissue models to trace routes of neuroinvasion and the role of cytokine responses. The goal is to map mechanisms that could point to ways to block brain entry or lessen neurological damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to strategies to prevent viruses from reaching the brain or to treatments that reduce brain inflammation and long-term damage.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have identified some routes and immune responses in alphavirus neuroinvasion, but many molecular details remain novel and are still being defined.
Where this research is happening
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University of Western Ontario
London, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klein, Robyn S. — University of Western Ontario
- Study coordinator: Klein, Robyn S.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How viruses invade the brain and ways to block it
Researchers are studying how certain brain-invading viruses interact with the body to enter and spread in the brain, with the goal of protecting people who might be exposed.
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Investigating how viruses invade the brain and affect the immune response
This study is looking at how certain viruses can get into the brain and spread, and it aims to find out how these viruses manage to avoid the body's defenses, which could help us find better ways to prevent or treat these infections.
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.