Innate immune control of brain signals in viral infections
Official title: Innate Immune Control of Neurotransmission
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11378751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to see if activating a neuron’s own immune signals can protect brain cells during infections like West Nile and Zika by dampening harmful nerve signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $586,377 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS143906-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with or at risk for neuroinvasive flavivirus infections (e.g., WNV, ZIKV) may benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without such infections are not the intended beneficiaries of this specific research.
What this research studies
This project explores how natural immune pathways inside brain cells influence electrical activity during flavivirus infections. Using a combination of chemogenetics, electrophysiology, and live calcium imaging, researchers will study how RIPK3 affects neuronal firing and synaptic strength. The goal is to understand whether boosting this pathway can reduce excitotoxic damage and improve neuronal survival in viral encephalitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new neuroprotective strategies for people with neuroinvasive flavivirus infections.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest innate neuronal signaling can influence excitability, indicating potential for protective strategies, though this exact approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
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Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daniels, Brian — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Daniels, Brian
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.