How viral chemokines help CMV spread to unborn babies
The role of viral chemokines for CMV dissemination and congenital infection
Looks at whether blocking specific viral chemokine-like proteins can stop CMV from spreading and protect babies before birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169071 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are focusing on viral chemokine-like proteins that seem to help cytomegalovirus (CMV) move through the body and reach the fetus. They will use rhesus macaque models that mimic human congenital CMV to find which UL146-family proteins are required for viral spread and fetal transmission. The team will then try approaches to interfere with those proteins and measure effects on blood virus levels, tissue spread, and transmission to offspring. The results are intended to guide future vaccines or treatments to prevent infection during pregnancy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people, those planning pregnancy, and parents of infants at risk for congenital CMV are the most relevant groups and could be candidates for future related trials.
Not a fit: People not concerned about pregnancy or those already infected before related interventions are available may not directly benefit from this early-stage, animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines or therapies that prevent CMV transmission during pregnancy and reduce congenital birth defects.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal experiments showed deleting UL146-family chemokine genes reduced CMV dissemination in macaques, while earlier human vaccine attempts have not yet prevented congenital CMV.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fruh, Klaus J — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Fruh, Klaus J
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.