# Comprehensive Phenotypic Profiling of Chronic Wasting Disease to Assess Transmissibility and Species Barriers

> **NIH NIH P20** · MC LAUGHLIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2024 · $360,000

## Abstract

Project IV: Summary
Background: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious prion disease of cervids (elk, deer, moose, and
reindeer) with no current treatment, few management tools, and lack of clarity regarding potential for
transmissibility to humans. Overall goal: In this project, we will establish comprehensive phenotypic profiling in
CWD diseased mouse models and investigate zoonotic barriers. Proposal: This project will
expand critical scientific knowledge in an underexplored field of zoonotic diseases. Limited phenotypic analyses
have made definitive diagnosis of CWD difficult, even though early diagnosis is crucial to reducing spread of
disease in wildlife and aiding in understanding the zoonotic capabilities. We propose two aims to address this
deficit of knowledge. In the first, we will establish comprehensive phenotyping profiling in cervidized mouse
models (with CWD modulating genetics of mule deer). Extensive behavioral assessments will be performed,
clinical biomarkers tracked, and a peripheral organ study will be performed to understand the course of disease
better, thereby, contributing new strain information and early diagnostic tools which may inform strategies for
management and therapies in the future. In the second, we will probe transmissibility of CWD to humans using
novel knock-in mice carrying human PRNP inoculated with CWD. Innovation: We will develop new clinical
capabilities in mouse models to explore the mechanisms, progression, and transmissibility of CWD. The
uniqueness of this project is twofold. First, phenotyping assessments have been limited for CWD mouse models
and have not translated to better or earlier diagnosis in wildlife. Due to the limitations with current methods, it is
also still unknown if this disease is zoonotic. This will be the first comprehensive investigation of this type
regarding CWD. Second, a limited number of studies in mouse models have been performed on the PRNP
variant chosen, a particularly highly disease resistant polymorphism found in wild mule deer. Our studies of
PRNP variants will aid in determining mechanisms of disease resistance and transmissibility factors.
Significance: Immediate significance is in providing guidelines for earlier and efficient detection of prion disease
manifestations. Additional significance: Investigating the phenotypes of mice with CWD modulating genetics may
contribute vital information regarding disease characteristics already occurring in wild mule deer which may affect
species barriers and disease outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771508
- **Project number:** 1P20GM152335-01
- **Recipient organization:** MC LAUGHLIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrea Lee Panter
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $360,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-01-01 → 2028-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771508

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771508, Comprehensive Phenotypic Profiling of Chronic Wasting Disease to Assess Transmissibility and Species Barriers (1P20GM152335-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771508. Licensed CC0.

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