Understanding Human Gut Viruses Like Rotavirus and Norovirus
Human Gastrointestinal Biomimetics for Enteric Viral Infections
This research aims to better understand how human rotavirus and norovirus cause severe stomach illness, which could lead to new ways to prevent and treat these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11099864 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Gastroenteritis, often caused by rotavirus and norovirus, is a major global health concern, especially since there are no effective antiviral treatments and limited vaccines. These viruses are difficult to study because they don't easily infect animal models or grow well in standard lab dishes. Our team is using special lab-grown human intestinal organoids, which are like tiny guts, to see how these viruses behave. By studying how the viruses infect different gut cells and interact with specific sugars, we hope to uncover new weaknesses we can target.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is relevant to anyone who has suffered from or is at risk of severe gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus or norovirus.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by human rotavirus or norovirus infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of much-needed new antiviral medications or more effective vaccines for rotavirus and norovirus infections.
How similar studies have performed: This approach using human intestinal organoids has already led to significant new discoveries about how these human viruses replicate and interact with gut cells.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Estes, Mary Kolb — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Estes, Mary Kolb
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.