How CMV develops resistance to antiviral medicines
Genetic Pathways of Human Cytomegalovirus Drug Resistance
['FUNDING_R01'] · PORTLAND VA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. · NIH-11300967
This project looks at the genetic changes in CMV that let the virus survive antiviral drugs, aiming to help transplant and cancer patients who get CMV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | PORTLAND VA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PORTLAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11300967 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers collect CMV samples from patients treated with antiviral drugs and use whole-genome deep sequencing to find mutations that appear after drug exposure. They use recombinant phenotyping in the lab to test how specific genetic changes affect drug sensitivity. The team will search for resistance mutations both in known antiviral target genes (like UL97, UL54, UL56/UL89/UL51) and in other viral genes that might matter. They will also study how baseline differences between viral strains change how well drugs work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with active CMV infection—especially immunosuppressed patients such as transplant recipients or cancer patients—whose virus is not responding as expected to antiviral therapy or who provide viral samples.
Not a fit: People without CMV infection or whose infection responds well to current antiviral treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve how clinicians diagnose drug-resistant CMV and guide better choices of existing antivirals or the development of new ones.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have already linked many CMV mutations in UL97 and UL54 to drug resistance, and this project builds on those successes using newer sequencing and phenotyping tools.
Where this research is happening
PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
- PORTLAND VA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. — PORTLAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHOU, SUNWEN — PORTLAND VA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
- Study coordinator: CHOU, SUNWEN
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 below.
Conditions: CMV infection, Cancers, Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease, Cytomegalovirus Infections