West African Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11615306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to understand and prevent emerging viruses in West Africa to protect people in the U.S. and globally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $33,259 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI151801-06S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11615306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals living in or traveling to West Africa who may be involved in surveillance, clinical analyses, or exposure studies related to emerging viruses.
✕Less likely to help
General population exposure to the research may not directly change care for any single individual during this grant period.
What this research studies
This program partners with research sites in four West African countries to study how zoonotic viruses spread from animals to people and livestock. Researchers will conduct field studies, keep track of virus-carrying vectors, and monitor human exposure and clinical outcomes to better anticipate outbreaks. The work will also analyze how different viral variants affect disease and recovery, with active surveillance to detect new cases early. Findings could inform local and international preparedness, response plans, and public health recommendations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved ability to predict and respond to emerging viral outbreaks, potentially reducing illness and deaths from zoonotic infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous field surveillance and zoonotic transmission studies have led to better outbreak detection and response in several regions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cross, Robert W — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Cross, Robert W
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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.