Understanding how viruses use a specific RNA modification to affect their behavior
Official title: Employing viruses to unravel the functional significance of the m5C epitranscriptome
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11010851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special change in RNA called 5-methylcytosine affects certain viruses, like Sindbis and chikungunya, to help us understand how they grow and interact with our bodies, which could lead to new treatments for viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 7, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $629,355 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175382-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit include individuals affected by viral infections, particularly those caused by Sindbis virus, chikungunya virus, or Coxsackievirus B3.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-viral related conditions or those not infected by the specific viruses studied may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of 5-methylcytosine (m5C), a specific modification of RNA, in various RNA viruses. By utilizing advanced techniques such as high-throughput sequencing and animal models, the study aims to uncover how m5C influences viral replication and interactions with host cells. The research focuses on specific viruses like Sindbis and chikungunya, exploring how this modification affects their life cycles and pathogenicity. Patients may benefit from insights gained that could lead to new antiviral therapies targeting these mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of novel antiviral treatments that specifically target viral RNA modifications.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of m5C in tRNA biology is well-established, the exploration of its significance in viral RNA is relatively novel, indicating potential for groundbreaking findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rice, Charles M — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Rice, Charles M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cells organize into organized tissues to form organs
Researchers are studying how human-like cells in a lab can self-organize within a scaffold to form orderly tissue patterns, which could illuminate how organs such as skin and bones develop.
-
Modeling Ataxia Telangiectasia in a human stem cell model of Purkinje cells
Researchers are creating a patient-derived, human cell model of Purkinje cells to understand why this brain disease causes cerebellar degeneration in people with Ataxia Telangiectasia.
-
Centers studying how cancer spreads through the body
A multi-institutional project at Rockefeller University is exploring how nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, immune cells, and metabolites influence the spread of cancer to help identify new ways to stop metastasis.
-
Understanding how mycobacterial transcription works to guide better TB drugs
Researchers will study how the RNA polymerase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria start, pause, and finish copying genetic information, with the goal of informing new antibiotic strategies against TB.
-
How chromosomes stay true when cells divide in cancer research
Researchers are studying how chromosomes are accurately copied and distributed during cell division to understand and potentially prevent cancer.
-
Marmoset model of Huntington's disease shows how symptoms relate to brain and behavior
A researcher at a top university is studying how Huntington's disease affects brain signals and behavior in marmosets to better understand the human condition.
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.