# University of Washington Arboviral Research Network (UWARN)

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $633,625

## Abstract

Abstract: University of Washington Arboviral Research Network (UWARN)
The University of Washington Arboviral Research Network (UWARN) will address emerging and re-emerging
infectious diseases by carrying out research on arboviruses that include current high burden pathogens including
dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Arboviruses also include emerging and re-emerging viruses such as
Mayaro, Una, Usutu, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Oropouche
viruses. UWARN will leverage the UW Metacenter for Pandemic Disease Preparedness and strong research
laboratory partners in Brazil, Senegal, South Africa, Pakistan and Taiwan as well as the UW Department of
Global Health global reach in capacity building. The UWARN international Collaborating Partners have
institution-based and population-based cohorts in place to carry out the planned research and monitor for new
virus emergence. The proposed UWARN research will create new human viral-neutralizing monoclonal
antibodies (Hu-nMabs) that can be used as therapeutics or diagnostics. UWARN research will also create new
diagnostics, created ab initio by the Institute for Protein Design, as artificial proteins that release light when
antibodies to virus are present in body fluids. Finally, UWARN research will generate an understanding of how
viruses manipulate the human innate immune system, and this information will be used to design biomarkers to
predict severe disease as well as to suggest host-directed therapies that could lead to better outcomes after
arboviral infection. The proposed technologies are generic and could be rapidly adapted to any future emerging
arbovirus threat. UWARN collaborators span virology, bacteriology, mycology, and parasitic infections, such that
UWARN can respond to diverse emerging infectious diseases threats. UWARN international laboratories have
advanced capabilities including biorepositories with generator-power backed-up -80C freezers, next-generation
sequencing (NGS) capabilities, fluorescence cell sorting, and BSL-3 containment facilities. UWARN cohorts have
biobanked samples taken from individuals during acute febrile illnesses, with known and unknown arboviral
diseases, and partnership sites are poised for prospective collection of population and facility–based samples.
UWARN labs will use metagenomic NGS to detect novel viral emergence in affiliated cohorts. UWARN Partners
have collaborating entomologists and veterinarians to sample arthropod vectors and animal reservoirs as
needed. Additional innovative capacity included the Brazil UWARN partner’s mobile van with on board NGS
capability for real-time, on-site viral sequencing and sampling to viral identification in less than 18 hrs. A second
partner, IRESSEF in Senegal, plans to set up a similar mobile vehicle for viral sampling and sequencing in
Senegal and the Brazil group will collaborate with IRESSEF on technology transfer and best practices. UWARN
partners will serve as a ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10478453
- **Project number:** 3U01AI151698-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Gale
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $633,625
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-08 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10478453

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10478453, University of Washington Arboviral Research Network (UWARN) (3U01AI151698-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10478453. Licensed CC0.

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