Investigating how an emerging virus affects the aging brain
Official title: CNS Senescence and Immunopathology in Lethal POWV Infection of Aged Mice
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-10912176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the Powassan virus affects the brains of older people, using aged mice to see how the virus can cause serious damage and what might help protect against it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $722,026 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI183762-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912176 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are elderly individuals who may be at risk for severe neurological complications from viral infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not elderly or do not have a history of viral infections affecting the brain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the effects of the Powassan virus (POWV) on the aging brain, particularly how it causes severe neurological damage in older individuals. By using aged mice models, the study examines the mechanisms of neuroinvasion and neuroinflammation associated with POWV infection. The researchers will compare the effects of a lethal strain of the virus with an attenuated strain that does not cause disease, aiming to uncover how the virus enters the central nervous system and leads to brain damage. This work could provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for preventing or mitigating the effects of POWV in elderly patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment options for neurological damage caused by viral infections in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: While research on viral impacts on the brain is ongoing, this specific investigation into POWV and its effects on aging is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mackow, Erich R — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Mackow, Erich R
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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.