How certain immune enzymes and RNA changes affect COVID-19 damage in lungs, heart, brain, and blood
Official title: Core-002
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11517258 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether specific immune enzymes (caspase-4/11) and changes to viral RNA change how COVID-19 harms organs, with the goal of helping develop better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 10, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,924 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI175399-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517258 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients directly, but people with recent COVID-19 or persistent lung, heart, brain, or blood symptoms could be candidates for future clinical trials based on these results.
✕Less likely to help
People without COVID-19 or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical, lab- and animal-focused work.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating and sharing key biological materials and mouse models to study how caspase-4/11 and RNA epigenetic changes influence SARS-CoV-2 infection in lungs, brain, heart, and blood. The team will produce high-quality virus stocks, generate and maintain genetically engineered mouse lines, perform intranasal infections, and measure viral loads and inflammatory signals in tissues. They will also run cell-based and in vivo assays to test whether targeting these enzymes or RNA modifications can reduce viral damage. This centralized core supports multiple projects by supplying reagents, managing animal challenge models, and ensuring quality so findings can move toward new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets that reduce organ damage and improve recovery for people with COVID-19 or long COVID.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have linked caspases and RNA modifications to viral disease, but translating these basic findings into proven COVID-19 treatments remains largely experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Amer, Amal O — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Amer, Amal O
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.