How hepatitis C adapts to other species to help develop vaccines
Official title: Genetic Viral and Host Adaptations to Breach Species Barriers of HCV
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11469762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are making a mouse-friendly version of hepatitis C so scientists can better test vaccines and understand the virus for people living with or at risk of hepatitis C.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2013 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $88,168 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI107301-13S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11469762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Although the current work is preclinical, future related trials would recruit adults with chronic hepatitis C or people at high risk of HCV exposure for vaccine testing.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatment for hepatitis C or those not at risk of HCV exposure should not expect direct or near-term benefit from this animal-model research.
What this research studies
This project aims to create an immunocompetent mouse model of hepatitis C by using a newly identified murine-adapted virus called Mad18. Scientists will study the viral and host genetic changes that let HCV overcome species barriers using primary murine hepatocytes and whole-animal experiments. The model will be used to explore how chronic infection and liver disease develop and to try vaccine approaches in a system that more closely mimics human immune responses. The team combines molecular biology, virology, and immunology methods to map those barriers and test whether vaccine candidates trigger protective immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed development of preventive hepatitis C vaccines and improve tools to reduce new infections and long-term liver damage.
How similar studies have gone: Direct-acting antiviral drugs already cure most hepatitis C infections, but creating a robust small-animal model is relatively novel and builds on recent successes with murine-adapted viral variants.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ploss, Alexander — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Ploss, Alexander
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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.