Humanized mice that mimic human immune responses to viral infections
Humanized Mouse Core
Researchers use humanized mice to mimic human CMV infection and see how the virus and potential treatments act for people affected by CMV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171735 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This core provides specially prepared huNSG mice that carry human blood and immune cells so human-specific viruses like CMV can grow, become latent, and reactivate in a small-animal model. The core standardizes how these mice are made and analyzed so different projects can be directly compared. Project teams use the mice to compare viral mutants and test candidate treatments, with the core helping design and run experiments. By centralizing expertise and methods, the core aims to make preclinical results more reliable and reproducible across studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by cytomegalovirus infection or those at high risk (for example, transplant recipients, people with weakened immune systems, or pregnant people concerned about congenital CMV) are the groups most likely to benefit from advances enabled by this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to CMV or those seeking immediate personal treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit because this is a preclinical mouse-model core rather than a clinical trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed development of better antiviral drugs or vaccines and improve understanding of CMV behavior in people.
How similar studies have performed: Humanized mouse models have been used successfully in prior research to model human-specific viral infections, but translating those findings into approved treatments remains a longer process.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caposio, Patrizia — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Caposio, Patrizia
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.