Understanding how viruses and immune responses behave
Modeling Core
Researchers are building computer models that combine lab, genetic, and health data to learn how COVID-19 and other viral infections affect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11289308 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is combining many types of medical and laboratory data—like antibody measurements, viral genetics, clinical outcomes, and social or environmental information—into computer models. These models aim to predict who may get sicker, how viruses evolve and spread, and how people respond to infection or vaccination. The core will develop statistical and mathematical tools to link different datasets and to analyze large-scale evolutionary patterns. Their tools and findings will be shared with other researchers so hospitals and public-health groups can use them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have had COVID-19 or other viral infections, people who were vaccinated, or individuals willing to donate clinical samples or health data to related cohorts.
Not a fit: People without viral infections or whose care is unrelated to the types of data used (for example, unrelated chronic noninfectious conditions) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve predictions of disease severity, speed detection of dangerous variants, and inform better prevention and treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Related computational and epidemiologic modeling has helped track COVID-19 variants and link immune measurements to outcomes, though integrating many heterogeneous data types at this scale is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lauffenburger, Douglas a — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Lauffenburger, Douglas a
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 below.