Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 5R01AI130092-08
Small Molecule Protease Inhibitors against MERS-CoV and Coronaviruses of Pandemic Potential
Recipient
Kansas State University
Award Amount
$731,548.00
Ceiling
$731,548.00
Awarded
May 26, 2026
Identifier
5R01AI130092-08
NIH grant awarded to Kansas State University to develop small molecule protease inhibitors targeting MERS-CoV and related coronaviruses, focusing on orally bioavailable antivirals to address high mortality and public health risks.
Description
This project aims to develop orally available antivirals for MERS-CoV and evaluate inhibitors against merbecovirus and sarbecovirus 3C-like protease, which will significantly impact human coronavirus research and public health. The research involves structure-guided design, synthesis, and optimization of inhibitors, biochemical and structural studies, and in vivo efficacy testing in a mouse model to identify a preclinical candidate and backup compounds for MERS-CoV, with potential application against related coronaviruses.