NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Metropolitan AntiViral Drug Accelerator: Animal Models

Official title: Metropolitan AntiViral Drug Accelerator (Animal Core)

Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11617032 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A large NIH-funded effort uses animal models to test new antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses to move promising leads toward early development.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHackensack University Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hackensack, United States)
Project startMay 16, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$1,432,000
NIH project number4U19AI171401-02
Project IDNIH-11617032 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are individuals living with conditions related to severe coronavirus diseases or who may contribute samples or data in related future human studies, subject to separate protocols.

Less likely to help

This grant involves animal studies and preclinical work; no direct patient participation is expected in this core.

What this research studies

This program provides validated rodent and hamster infection models under BSL-3 conditions to test new antiviral compounds for COVID-19 and other RNA viruses. It focuses on optimizing dosing and pharmacodynamic responses in models that reflect human disease progression. By making specialized models and expertise available, the project aims to speed preclinical evaluation of promising antiviral leads. If you are a patient or caregiver, these efforts could shorten the time to potential new therapies reaching clinical testing.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could accelerate the availability of effective antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and related viral diseases by advancing compounds through preclinical testing.

How similar studies have gone: Previous antiviral preclinical programs using animal infection models have successfully identified dosing strategies that inform human trials.

Where this research is happening

  • Hackensack University Medical Center
    Hackensack, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Perlin, David S — Hackensack University Medical Center
  • Study coordinator: Perlin, David S

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Orally accessible antiviral leaders to fight COVID-19 and related coronaviruses

    A research effort to fast-track safe, easy-to-take oral drugs that can treat COVID-19 and other coronaviruses by repurposing and optimizing existing antiviral compounds.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11619619

  • Metropolitan Antiviral Drug Accelerator Virology Core

    A core team across top hospitals and universities is testing antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses to identify promising drugs for COVID-19.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11617048

  • Broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor for antiviral therapy

    Researchers are developing a new small-molecule drug that blocks a key SARS-CoV-2 enzyme, with potential to treat COVID-19 across multiple virus variants.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11617047

  • Metropolis AntiViral Drug Accelerator: Pharmacology Core

    A dedicated program to speed up promising antiviral drugs by testing their behavior in the body and choosing the best candidates for further development.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11617031

  • Metropolitan Antiviral Drug Accelerator

    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.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11617030

  • Metropolitan Antiviral Drug Accelerator (MAVDA)

    A national effort to speed up the discovery and development of new antiviral medicines to fight diseases like COVID-19, with a focus on making lead compounds that could become effective treatments.

    NIH research Hackensack University Medical Center · Hackensack, United States · NIH-11617029

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.