Understanding how EV68 damages motor neurons in kids with AFM
Official title: Mechanisms of Motor Neuron Injury in Acute Flaccid Myelitis
Funded at Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger · NIH-11380668 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in children with acute flaccid myelitis looks at how an EV68 infection harms motor neurons and whether we can block that damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $229,360 |
| NIH project number | 5K08NS124989-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380668 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young people who have or are at risk for AFM or EV68-related motor neuron injury could benefit from findings that guide future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
If AFM is not present or unrelated to EV68 pathways studied, direct benefits may be limited for these individuals.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how enterovirus EV68 causes motor neuron injury in acute flaccid myelitis, a disease that mainly affects children. Researchers will study nucleocytoplasmic transport and nuclear pore disruption in motor neurons after EV68 exposure, to see how these processes contribute to neuron death. They will use lab models to test whether drugs can prevent this damage and will explore early changes in a system that combines motor neurons with muscle fibers. The work aims to uncover targets that could lead to new treatments for AFM in affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify mechanisms and drug targets to prevent motor neuron death in AFM, potentially reducing paralysis in affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests nucleocytoplasmic transport is involved in enterovirus-induced neuron toxicity, supporting a plausible therapeutic direction.
Where this research is happening
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Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elrick, Matthew J — Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
- Study coordinator: Elrick, Matthew J
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.