# Project 1

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA · 2021 · $253,705

## Abstract

Summary
Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a US and global public health crisis. It has led to the deaths of
hundreds of thousands in the US and worldwide. COVID-19 is caused by a novel beta-coronavirus (CoV)
known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, which was reported to cause severe
pneumonia and lethal respiratory failure. Little is known about the disease mechanism of this virus. Thus,
animal models are urgently needed to start to investigate the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis mechanisms or test
therapeutic interventions. In this application, we propose to establish the tissue tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in vivo
by comparing two different mouse models that show moderate or severe disease in parallel. We also propose
to test compound libraries to identify inhibitors of viral infection as drug candidates for COVID-19. We will also
determine how the virus modulates innate immune responses in vivo in order to establish virulence. The
proposed research will have manifold impact on the scientific battlefront on SARS-CoV-2 and the deadly
COVID-19.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10270978
- **Project number:** 2P20GM113123-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Abraam M. Yakoub
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $253,705
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-05-13 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10270978

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10270978, Project 1 (2P20GM113123-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10270978. Licensed CC0.

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