How metabolic syndrome makes brain-infecting viruses worse
Official title: Changes in Cellular Metabolism Associated with Metabolic Syndrome Increase the Severity of Neurotropic Viral Infections
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11330311 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if the cell metabolism problems tied to metabolic syndrome make brain-infecting viruses like West Nile cause more severe illness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $225,538 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM148326-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330311 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with metabolic syndrome or related metabolic conditions would be the group most relevant to these findings and potential future human studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without metabolic syndrome or those with unrelated health issues are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific line of research in the near term.
What this research studies
This project looks at why people with metabolic syndrome have worse outcomes after infections that reach the brain. Researchers will use mice that mimic metabolic syndrome and compare their brain metabolism and virus levels to healthy mice. They will use advanced lab techniques to find specific metabolic changes that let the virus grow or cause more damage. The goal is to point to biological processes that could be targeted to protect people with metabolic syndrome from severe brain infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal metabolic targets that lead to treatments or prevention strategies to reduce severe brain infections in people with metabolic syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior clinical observations show worse viral outcomes in people with metabolic syndrome and lab studies show viruses change host metabolism, but direct proof that MetS-driven metabolic changes worsen brain infections is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pinto, Amelia Kahler — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Pinto, Amelia Kahler
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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.