How viruses decide cell fate and cell death in people like you
Official title: Mechanisms of Virus–Host Conflict at the Level of Cell Death
Funded at Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ · NIH-11428946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how viruses and our cells talk to each other to decide whether a cell should stay alive or die, which can affect how infections spread and how our bodies respond.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165568-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients affected by viral infections or individuals with conditions that alter cell death pathways, as well as researchers who can translate findings into therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People with conditions unrelated to viral infections or cell-death pathways may not directly benefit from these results.
What this research studies
This project looks at how viruses and the host cell communicate, taking into account the 3D organization of tissues to understand different patterns of cell death. Researchers will examine viral and host signals inside and outside the cell to see how these cues push cells toward survival or various regulated death pathways. By comparing how these processes work across different cell types and viruses, they aim to build a framework that can apply in real-world models. The work will explore how the spatial context of tissues influences virus replication and cell fate. Overall, the study seeks to map how infection signals translate into specific cellular outcomes in more realistic 3D environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal why some infections spread quickly or are controlled, guiding new strategies to limit viruses and improve treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that cell death pathways influence viral replication, and this study builds on those findings with a focus on spatial context and cell fate.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
Blacksburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weger, James D — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Weger, James 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.