Understanding how viruses spread between animals
Natural model for evaluating within- and cross-species virus transmission
This project looks at how viruses naturally spread among different animals to better understand how they might jump to humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11120999 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a unique approach to learn how viruses move from one animal to another, and how they change as they spread. Researchers will expose laboratory mice, rats, hamsters, and deer mice to natural viruses found in pet store mice. This allows them to observe the entire process of virus transmission, from the original host to a new one. The goal is to understand what factors influence how easily a virus spreads and evolves, including how long an animal is exposed and its immune response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve human participants, so there are no specific patient qualifications.
Not a fit: Patients seeking direct treatment or immediate clinical intervention for a specific disease will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how viruses spread between animals could help us predict and prevent future outbreaks that might affect human health.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of studying virus transmission is established, this specific model using natural rodent pathogens to bridge experimental and natural systems is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Langlois, Ryan — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Langlois, Ryan
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.