Mapping how viruses affect the hearts of babies and young children
Official title: A spatially resolved molecular atlas of acute viral myocarditis at single-cell resolution
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-11306051 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map which heart cells and molecules change during viral myocarditis to help babies and young children with heart inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $776,752 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176681-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306051 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children with suspected or confirmed viral myocarditis, or families willing to contribute tissue or blood samples, would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical/sample efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Adults with non-viral heart conditions or people who cannot or will not provide clinical samples are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project will create detailed maps showing which heart cells and molecules change when a virus infects the heart, with attention to infants and young children. The team will use advanced tools like spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing to see where individual cells are and how they respond within heart tissue. They will combine these molecular maps with traditional virology methods and mouse models to understand the timing and drivers of inflammation. The findings aim to point to cell types and molecular signals that could improve diagnosis or guide new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to more accurate diagnosis and new targets for treatments for viral myocarditis in infants and children.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell and spatial mapping approaches have advanced understanding in other diseases, but applying them to viral myocarditis in infants is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parker, John S — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Parker, John S
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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.