Innate immune sensing of Rift Valley fever virus in human cells
Official title: Innate immune recognition and response to Rift Valley fever virus
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11386411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how human immune cells recognize Rift Valley fever virus and what that means for disease such as fever, hepatitis, or brain inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $375,741 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI171200-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults (21+) of African descent with potential exposure or at risk of RVFV infection, or patient-derived samples used to study immune responses.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals with no exposure or involvement in RVFV research would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project aims to uncover which innate immune sensors in human primary cells detect RVFV and how these signals shape viral control and disease progression. Researchers will study biologically relevant human cells to map sensor pathways and effector responses during RVFV infection. They will also test how different immune components influence viral recognition in vivo and explore the role of infected hematopoietic cells in disease outcomes. The goal is to reveal cell-type specific immune responses that could guide therapies to reduce illness from RVFV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of early immune responses to RVFV could lead to new strategies to prevent or lessen severe disease in people exposed to the virus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that innate immunity shapes RVFV pathogenesis, but this proposal aims to define cell-type specific responses in human cells.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcelroy, Anita K — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Mcelroy, Anita K
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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.