IRE1 Alpha and COVID-19: how a cell-stress protein affects infection
Role of IRE1 Alpha in Coronavirus Infections
This project will test whether blocking a cell-stress protein called IRE1 Alpha can reduce SARS-CoV-2 replication and harmful inflammation in people with COVID-19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285331 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how IRE1 Alpha helps the coronavirus replicate using infected human cells in the lab. They will also analyze blood and tissue samples from people who had COVID-19 to see whether IRE1 Alpha activity links to worse illness, especially in older adults or people with diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure. The team will test drugs that block IRE1 Alpha (some already being studied for other diseases) to see if they can lower virus levels or inflammatory signals in these models. These lab and specimen studies aim to build preclinical evidence that could support future treatment trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with confirmed COVID-19, especially older adults or those with conditions linked to ER stress such as obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure who can provide clinical samples.
Not a fit: People without active COVID-19 or those with mild, self-limited illness may be unlikely to benefit directly because this research is preclinical and focuses on lab and sample analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce virus levels and dangerous inflammation in COVID-19 using IRE1 Alpha blockers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies link IRE1 Alpha to inflammation and some drugs targeting it are in development for non-infectious diseases, but applying these inhibitors to SARS-CoV-2 is a relatively new idea.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fink, Susan Leilani — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Fink, Susan Leilani
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.