Metropolitan Antiviral Drug Accelerator
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11617030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national program at Hackensack University Medical Center to help develop and optimize small-molecule drugs that may block key SARS-CoV-2 proteins, potentially slowing COVID-19 replication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | May 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $169,749 |
| NIH project number | 4U19AI171401-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with COVID-19 or at-risk individuals could benefit from future antiviral candidates arising from this program.
✕Less likely to help
This program is foundational research and may not produce an available therapy during its timeline.
What this research studies
This program provides expertise in biochemistry, biophysics, structure biology, and computational methods to support teams working on inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 proteins. It focuses on multiple viral targets, including proteases and the RNA polymerase, to design compounds that interfere with viral replication. The Structural Biology Core will generate structural data (X-ray and cryo-EM) and use it to guide iterative drug design. Researchers collaborate across labs to translate structural insights into candidate antivirals with the goal of adding new options for treatment or prevention. Participation involves disease-relevant virology work that could eventually benefit patients with COVID-19.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new antiviral drugs that slow or stop SARS-CoV-2 replication in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous antiviral structure-guided drug design efforts have yielded effective inhibitors for coronaviruses, but this program aims to expand and optimize multiple targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shapiro, Lawrence S — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Shapiro, Lawrence S
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Metropolitan Antiviral Drug Accelerator (MAVDA)
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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.