New antiviral agents to fight Zika and dengue viruses
Official title: Novel Antiviral Agents Targeting Zika and Dengue Virus
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11378557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tiny grant to test new antiviral drugs that could help people, especially children and families in affected regions, fight Zika and dengue viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $80,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI193192-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals in regions with Zika or dengue exposure in future phases or populations modeled to reflect affected age groups, including children and newborns.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage lab work that does not yet involve people may not benefit patients directly until later development stages.
What this research studies
This project aims to identify and develop antiviral compounds that target Zika and dengue viruses. Researchers will use early-stage experiments to screen potential drugs and understand how they stop these viruses from growing. If promising, the work could lay the groundwork for future treatments that protect patients who are at risk of severe illness from Zika or dengue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the antiviral candidates could lead to new therapies that reduce illness and complications from Zika and dengue infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that antivirals can block these viruses in laboratory studies, but effective human therapies remain a goal.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Xin — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Li, Xin
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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.