Award
NIH Reporter #5R35NS116836-07
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: Endemic Viruses and Lethal Brain Disease
Recipient
Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
Award Amount
$905,846.00
Ceiling
$905,846.00
Awarded
April 21, 2026
Identifier
5R35NS116836-07
This award funds research on Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a serious brain disease caused by JC virus in immunocompromised patients. The project aims to understand virus spread and persistence in the CNS to develop early biomarkers and treatments.
Description
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a major life-threatening complication in patients with AIDS and those undergoing immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, severe plaque psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hematologic malignancies, and rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is caused by a human polyomavirus following loss of immune surveillance of the CNS. Key gaps include the site of virus persistence, mechanisms of persistence, and spread within the CNS. The project hypothesizes that virus spreads via extracellular vesicles from kidney to brain, with spread in the brain mediated by extracellular vesicles due to lack of receptors for free virus. The goal is to identify early biomarkers and develop strategies to prevent and treat PML.