Understanding how Powassan virus adapts to different hosts
Official title: Investigating the Genetic Determinants of Host-Specificity and Potential for Further Adaptation of Powassan Virus
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11061190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the Powassan virus changes when it infects different animals, like ticks and mammals, to help us understand how it spreads and how we can better prevent and treat tick-borne diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $36,480 |
| NIH project number | 5F31AI176725-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals living in areas where Powassan virus is endemic, particularly those who have been exposed to ticks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in endemic areas or have no history of tick exposure may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the genetic factors that determine how the Powassan virus, a tick-borne virus, adapts to various hosts, including ticks and mammals. By analyzing genetic variations in the virus and its hosts, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind host specificity and potential adaptations. Patients may benefit from insights gained about the virus's behavior, which could inform prevention and treatment strategies for tick-borne diseases. The research will involve collecting and analyzing samples from different host species to understand the virus's evolution and transmission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing and treating infections caused by the Powassan virus.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding tick-borne viruses through genetic analysis, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lange, Rachel — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Lange, Rachel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cross-disease small molecule therapy for CAG expansion spinocerebellar ataxias
A new NIH grant is exploring whether existing and natural small molecules can lower harmful CAG RNA and proteins across several spinocerebellar ataxias to help people with these conditions.
-
New small molecule therapeutics to help myotonic dystrophy
A new NIH-funded project tests specially designed small molecules to lower harmful RNA activity in myotonic dystrophy and related diseases, aiming to reduce disease-driving RNA effects.
-
Biofilm structure and its role in the start of gum disease
A researchers team will study how tiny communities of bacteria at the gumline interact with the mouth’s tissues to spark inflammation that leads from healthy gums to periodontal disease.
-
Understanding how unusual RNA translation happens in neurological diseases
Researchers are studying how RNAs can start making proteins in unexpected ways in neurodegenerative diseases, which could reveal new targets for therapy.
-
Early-life neighborhood redlining and lifetime mortality in a historical cohort
This project looks at whether growing up in areas graded or disinvested by HOLC in the 1930s affects mortality later in life for people born in 1930–1940.
-
Activating PTP1B and Other Phosphatases with Small Molecules
A safety-focused, patient-friendly look at a project that aims to turn on natural enzymes in our cells to help correct harmful signals in diseases.
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.