Midwest AViDD Center for antiviral drug development
Official title: Midwest AViDD Center
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11545947 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH-supported program to create and coordinate new antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and related pathogens to help patients in future outbreaks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $17,010,754 |
| NIH project number | 4U19AI171954-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11545947 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with COVID-19 or related viral infections could indirectly benefit as drugs advance to clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
This grant funds preclinical drug development and core infrastructure; no direct treatment or patient recruitment is involved at this stage.
What this research studies
This center brings together experts to develop and test new antiviral drugs using multiple screening and design approaches. Projects target key viral processes like entry, proteases, and RNA enzymes, with integrated support from administration, chemistry, structural biology, and virology cores. The goal is to create actionable drug candidates that could one day help patients facing current or future coronavirus threats.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new antiviral drugs developed through this coordination-and-collaboration hub.
How similar studies have gone: This program builds on prior antiviral drug development efforts and leverages established collaborations, with a track record of multidisciplinary success in drug discovery.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Reuben S — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Harris, Reuben 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.