How differences between individual cells shape viral infections
Official title: Harnessing cell-to-cell variability to understand viral infection outcomes
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11143067 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why some infected cells stop a virus while others produce many copies, using herpes virus models to help people with viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $460,359 |
| NIH project number | 5DP2AI154437-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143067 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This grant supports lab-based research using cell and virus models and does not enroll patients, so there is no patient recruitment for this project.
✕Less likely to help
People expecting immediate new treatments or clinical trials would not benefit directly from this basic lab research in the short term.
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work that follows viruses inside single cells to see why outcomes differ from cell to cell. The team uses advanced single-cell methods and imaging with herpes simplex virus as a model to track viral gene activity and how many viral particles each cell makes. They aim to pinpoint host cell factors that cause an infection to abort or to create so-called “super producers.” Those findings could guide new ways to block viruses or design better antiviral drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new host-based targets for antivirals and help design treatments that stop virus spread at the cellular level.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell studies have shown that cells differ widely in infection outcomes, but identifying the exact molecular causes is a newer, less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drayman, Nir — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Drayman, Nir
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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.