Viral Factors in the Prenatal Brain: How HEXB and Lysosomes Shape Baby Brain Health
Official title: Viral Neurobiology in the Prenatal Brain: The Role of Enzymes & Lysosomes in Causing or Mitigating Brain Injury
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11460958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how a mother’s viral infection during pregnancy can affect a baby’s brain, focusing on a specific enzyme (HEXB) and lysosome function to understand and prevent brain injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $749,557 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS151308-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11460958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people at risk of viral infection who are interested in understanding how infection could affect fetal brain development (via related clinical studies or biospecimen contributions).
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people not affected by viral infection or those not involved in related research activities may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how prenatal viral infections like CMV impact brain development by examining HEXB gene variations and lysosome activity using human organoids, iPSC models, and mouse studies. They will look at how GM2 breakdown and viral attachment influence neuron injury and brain growth. The aim is to identify precise therapeutic targets to protect the developing brain during pregnancy. Findings could lead to personalized interventions for pregnant people with viral infections to reduce birth brain injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted treatments or preventive strategies to minimize brain injury in babies exposed to viruses in pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with HEXB and GM2 in models suggests a link between lysosomal activity and viral brain injury, supporting a potentially translatable path.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kousa, Youssef a — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Kousa, Youssef a
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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.