Molecular links between metabolism and viral infection in latent and active herpesvirus life cycles
Official title: Molecular Mechanisms Drive Metabolic and Lipid Profiles that Define Cells in the Latent and Lytic Stages of Viral Infection
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11384756 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how viruses change cellular metabolism during latent and active infection to understand what keeps cells alive and infected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,563 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160182-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384756 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to direct patient enrollment; study uses in vitro cell models and analyses.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is expected in laboratory cell-model work.
What this research studies
Researchers use a herpesvirus model that can exist in latent and lytic states to map how metabolism, lipids, and gene activity shift when infection changes. They will integrate metabolic, lipid, and transcription data to identify signatures that separate cell groups with different survival during infection. The goal is to uncover fundamental cellular mechanisms that sustain metabolic balance in both quiet and active infection, which could reveal new targets for therapies. The work is conducted in a lab setting using human cell models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches to treat viral infections by targeting cellular metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows metabolism changes are linked to infection states, supporting a plausible path forward in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanchez, Erica Lee — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Sanchez, Erica Lee
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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.