# Defining maternal and neonatal antibody responses in congenital Zika virus infection

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $50,183

## Abstract

Abstract (from original application)
Candidate. My career goal is to improve the health of children with congenital viral infections by defin-
ing the relationship between the fetomaternal immune response and outcomes of congenital infection.
My short-term objective is to refine and add to my skills as an independent investigator and begin my
independent research career as a junior faculty member at the University of Wisconsin on an acceler-
ated trajectory with the protected time and resources to develop my research program. The education
linked to this proposal is in the areas of fetomaternal immunology, bioinformatics and fetal development,
which will enable me to complement my prior training in molecular virology and develop an innovative
approach to the study of the immune response to congenital Zika virus infection.
Research Project. Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy is associated with congenital in-
fection and the development of birth defects. Maternal infection results in transmission to the fetus and
the virus disseminates throughout fetal tissues resulting in birth defects. Some infants have severe birth
defects and others are either not affected or only mildly affected. Determining the relationship between
the fetomaternal immune response and these different infection phenotypes is critical for defining the
fetomaternal immune response that results in limited fetal harm. Characterization of this immune re-
sponse will provide targets for immunotherapy development, which is necessary to reduce the mortality
and morbidity from congenital ZIKV infection.
Career Development Plan. My proposed mentoring and training activities will focus on (1) attaining
expertise in fetomaternal immunology, bioinformatics and fetal/infant development through mentoring,
hands-on laboratory work and coursework; (2) developing leadership skills to pursue investigations in
an independent laboratory; (3) presenting and publishing data; and (4) continuing and expanding pro-
fessional collaborations. My research will be closely coordinated with my training activities and will build
toward a successful R01 application in the fourth year of this award.
Research Environment. I am well supported within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of
Wisconsin with independent laboratory space. I will continue to benefit from the outstanding collabora-
tive biological sciences research infrastructure at our institution and nonhuman primate animal facilities
at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10162848
- **Project number:** 3K08AI139341-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Emma L Mohr
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $50,183
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-02-12 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10162848

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10162848, Defining maternal and neonatal antibody responses in congenital Zika virus infection (3K08AI139341-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10162848. Licensed CC0.

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