How cytomegalovirus harms developing brain tissue
Cytomegalovirus manipulation of functional cortical tissue development
This project looks at how cytomegalovirus damages developing human brain cells to help protect babies before they're born.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263727 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using human stem-cell derived neural progenitor cells and 3‑dimensional mini‑brains (cortical organoids) grown in the lab to see how congenital CMV affects brain development. They have found the virus lowers important brain‑development genes and disrupts tissue structure, cell differentiation, calcium signaling, and electrical activity. Some of these problems occur even when the virus is not fully replicating, and standard antiviral drugs did not fully restore normal brain cell development in their models. The team aims to understand the molecular steps that cause the damage and to guide safer treatments that could protect fetal brain development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most relevant to this research are pregnant people with known or suspected CMV infection and families affected by congenital CMV seeking better prevention or treatment options for fetal brain injury.
Not a fit: People without CMV exposure, those whose neurological problems are due to other causes, or non‑pregnant individuals are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to safer, targeted ways to prevent or treat congenital CMV brain injury in babies.
How similar studies have performed: Existing antiviral drugs can limit CMV replication but are limited by toxicity in pregnancy, and lab-grown human brain organoid approaches are relatively new and have provided promising biological insights but no approved clinical therapies yet.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebert, Allison D — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Ebert, Allison D
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.