Novel antivirals for alphavirus arthritis
Official title: Development of novel antivirals for arthritogenic alphaviruses
Funded at University of Louisville · NIH-11609180 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is refining a promising antiviral compound to treat alphavirus infections that cause arthritis, with a focus on Chikungunya and related viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Louisville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $133,920 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI187483-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11609180 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to direct patient enrollment in this grant; focuses on preclinical development and lab-based studies.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation in this stage; human testing would occur in future trials outside this grant.
What this research studies
The project builds on prior antiviral work to optimize a quinazoline compound that targets alphaviruses, aiming to broaden activity to Old World strains. It uses structural biology, medicinal chemistry, and preclinical virology to understand how the drug interacts with viral replication machinery and to improve efficacy. The work includes analyzing interactions at the molecular level and testing improved compounds in lab models to move toward a potential therapeutic candidate. This is designed to address a pressing public health need for effective treatments against arthritogenic alphaviruses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to a new antiviral drug that reduces illness and complications from alphavirus infections like Chikungunya.
How similar studies have gone: Previous NW alphavirus antivirals showed promise in preclinical models, supporting further development toward OW alphaviruses.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Louisville
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Donghoon — University of Louisville
- Study coordinator: Chung, Donghoon
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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.