Understanding why some orthobunyaviruses hurt the brain and others don’t
Official title: Elucidating the viral factors and mechanisms driving orthobunyavirus neuropathogenesis
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11432485 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how certain brain-invading viruses in the California serogroup cause meningitis and brain disease, so we can learn what makes some viruses more dangerous than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $571,859 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI202268-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11432485 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to a specific patient population study; applicable to future patients affected by orthobunyavirus infections.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage basic research may not directly benefit any individual patient in the short term.
What this research studies
This project looks at how orthobunyaviruses cross the blood-brain barrier and cause brain damage. Using mouse models, researchers will compare different viruses like La Crosse, Jamestown Canyon, and Inkoo to identify viral proteins that drive neuroinvasion and neurovirulence. The goal is to map which viral factors lead to severe neurological disease and how host factors influence outcomes. The findings could guide future therapies or vaccines to protect people at risk of arboviral encephalitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining knowledge about why certain brain-threatening viruses behave differently could inform safer vaccines, targeted therapies, and better risk assessment for affected communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed differing neuropathogenic phenotypes among these viruses in mice, suggesting a promising path but still early evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Evans, Alyssa — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Evans, Alyssa
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.