Understanding how viruses use RNA to take over cells
Official title: Structure, function, and dynamics of viral RNAs and RNA-containing complexes
Funded at New York Structural Biology Center · NIH-11137633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how viruses use special RNA structures to control our cells and make more viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Structural Biology Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $747,882 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM118070-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with viral infections could potentially benefit from future treatments developed based on the foundational knowledge gained from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this foundational laboratory research.
What this research studies
Our cells have clever ways to control how they make proteins, often using specific RNA structures. Viruses have learned to copy this strategy, using their own RNA to hijack our cell machinery. We want to understand the exact steps these viral RNAs take to trick our cells. This includes looking at 'tRNA-like structures' that mimic our own tRNAs and 'termination upstream ribosome binding sites' that help viruses restart protein production. By uncovering these detailed mechanisms, we hope to learn fundamental principles of how viruses operate.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this basic understanding could lead to new ways to stop viral infections by targeting how viruses control our cells.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon previous discoveries regarding how viral RNA structures function, suggesting a foundation of prior successful work in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Structural Biology Center
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kieft, Jeffrey S — New York Structural Biology Center
- Study coordinator: Kieft, Jeffrey S
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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.