Pleomorphic influenza virus shape and how long it survives outside the body
Official title: Pleomorphic morphology as a determinant of environmental stability of influenza virus
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11440778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how different shapes of influenza viruses behave in real-world air and surfaces, and what that means for how easily the virus could spread.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $192,587 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI203156-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable; this is a basic science study. No direct patient participation is required.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit in this specific project.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the pleomorphic (shape-changing) influenza virus persists in respiratory droplets under varying environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature. They will use controlled environmental settings to see how shape and growth conditions influence infectivity over time. The work aims to connect virus form with stability outside a person, potentially informing public health strategies to limit transmission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help improve guidance on how long influenza remains contagious in the environment and inform prevention measures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows environmental factors affect influenza stability, but how pleomorphic shape changes this is not yet known.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rockey, Nicole C — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Rockey, Nicole C
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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.