Award
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 1R21AI191344-01A1
Peptide-conjugated phosphodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PPMO)-based henipavirus therapeutics
Recipient
ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI, NEW YORK, NY, USA
Award Amount
$475,339.00
Ceiling
$475,339.00
Awarded
March 30, 2026
Identifier
1R21AI191344-01A1
Development of PPMO compounds targeting Nipah virus mRNAs to create novel antiviral therapeutics, tested in cell culture and animal models, addressing a critical public health threat with no current effective treatments.
Description
This project aims to develop peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PPMO) compounds as anti-Nipah virus therapeutics. The project involves designing PPMOs targeting viral mRNAs essential for RNA synthesis, testing their efficacy in cell culture and in vivo hamster models, and assessing their mechanism of action and safety. Nipah virus is a highly lethal zoonotic paramyxovirus causing severe respiratory disease and encephalitis in humans, with no approved antivirals. Developing PPMO-based therapeutics could provide a novel treatment option to address this significant public health threat.