Rapid point-of-care tests for Lassa and related hemorrhagic fever viruses
Official title: Development of point-of-care testing for Lassa and other hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11140446 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will create quick, easy tests to detect Lassa and similar arenaviruses so people in affected areas can get a diagnosis faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $398,606 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170594-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140446 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected Lassa or other arenavirus infections, especially those in or recently returned from West Africa or other endemic areas, are the most relevant candidates for validation or clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure risk to arenaviruses, or those in areas where the test is not deployed, would be unlikely to benefit directly from this work in the short term.
What this research studies
The team will develop a bedside-style diagnostic that works outside advanced labs using specially selected antibodies that recognize Lassa and related arenaviruses. They will build antibody libraries, pick high-affinity antibody pairs, and design a point-of-care assay intended to be sensitive across different arenavirus strains. The test will be optimized for use in low-resource settings and then validated using clinical samples, including those from West Africa where Lassa is common. The goal is a reliable, broad test that helps clinicians identify infections quickly at or near the patient.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could get faster diagnoses, earlier treatment, and reduced spread of hemorrhagic fever viruses.
How similar studies have gone: Rapid tests exist for some viral diseases, but reliable point-of-care diagnostics for Lassa and related arenaviruses are limited, so this approach is promising but not yet widely proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gunn, Michael D — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Gunn, Michael D
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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.