Neuropathogenesis of Rift Valley Fever Virus: How RVFV reaches the brain after a bite
Official title: Neuropathogenesis of Rift Valley fever virus
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11384728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how Rift Valley Fever virus can move from a mosquito bite to the brain, aiming to prevent brain disease from this infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $580,741 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183792-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a direct patient enrollment study; findings aim to benefit people at risk of RVFV exposure in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not directly enroll patients or provide immediate treatment.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mouse models that imitate a mosquito bite to study how RVFV travels to the CNS. They will perform experiments in cells and animals to map the routes the virus uses to reach the brain and identify how the blood-brain barrier might be breached. The work will generate data that could guide development of therapies or vaccines to protect the brain from RVFV. The project is conducted at the University of Pittsburgh with a focus on understanding deadly complications in humans. It builds on laboratory studies to clarify the biological steps leading to neuropathology after exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform strategies to prevent RVFV brain infection and reduce severe neurological disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with neurotropic viruses using rodent models has shown routes of CNS entry, but this project explores RVFV-specific mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcelroy, Anita K — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Mcelroy, Anita K
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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.