Award
NIH Reporter #1R21AI202907-01
Intestinal Epithelial Cellular Targets of Human Norovirus Infection
Recipient
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Award Amount
$240,000.00
Ceiling
$240,000.00
Awarded
August 18, 2026
Identifier
1R21AI202907-01
A research grant awarded to study the role of human tuft cells in norovirus infection using advanced organoid models, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies.
Description
This project aims to determine whether human tuft cells serve a similar role in human norovirus pathogenesis by using a tuft cell–enriched human intestinal organoid model. The study will assess if human norovirus infects human tuft cells and analyze the functional consequences of infection, including effects on epithelial signaling, immune mediator release, and barrier function. This high-risk/high-reward project could reveal an unexpected viral niche and identify new therapeutic avenues for human norovirus disease.