Understanding how certain viruses affect the brain and testing new vaccines
Official title: Project 3: Peribunyaviridae Pathogenesis and Vaccine Testing
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-10863344 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain viruses can cause serious brain diseases and aims to find out how our immune system responds to them, while also testing different types of vaccines to see how well they can protect us from these viruses and their effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $3,842,980 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI181968-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10863344 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk of infection from orthobunyaviruses, particularly those living in areas where these viruses are prevalent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of exposure to orthobunyaviruses or those with existing neurological conditions unrelated to these viruses may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the pathogenesis of orthobunyaviruses, which can cause serious neurological diseases in humans. The project aims to identify the immune factors and receptors involved in these infections, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies. Researchers will also validate various vaccine approaches, including protein-adjuvant and mRNA vaccines, to determine their effectiveness in preventing both immediate and long-term effects of the viruses. By understanding how these viruses enter the central nervous system and how vaccines can protect against them, the study seeks to improve public health responses to emerging viral threats.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective vaccines that prevent serious neurological complications caused by orthobunyaviruses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing vaccines for similar viral infections, indicating that this approach may yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ronca, Shannon — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Ronca, Shannon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Retinal cell grafts to restore sight in AMD and RP
A patient-focused program aims to replace damaged retinal cells with organized, transplant-ready sheets created from stem cells to improve vision in age-related macular degeneration and related diseases.
-
Treg-based tolerance to dystrophin immune responses in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
A new grant aims to help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy by teaching the immune system to tolerate the dystrophin treatment delivered by gene therapy.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
-
Promoting Heart Cell Maturation with Light-Activated Engineered Peptides
Aims to help grown heart cells from stem cells mature more like real adult heart tissue using special peptide coatings that respond to light.
-
Understanding how heart nerves affect dangerous heart rhythms after a heart attack
This NIH grant studies how changes in the heart’s nerve signaling after a heart attack lead to dangerous rhythm problems, with the goal of finding ways to prevent them.
-
All of Us Southern California Consortium supports broad participation in a national health data program
A national health data program in Southern California works to recruit and retain adults to share health information and participate in research that uses this data.
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.