# Core D: Animal models and vaccine evaluation

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $5,867,641

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – CORE D: ANIMAL MODELS AND VACCINE EVALUATION
Among viruses that cause disease in humans viral zoonoses within the family Paramyxoviridae and order
Bunyavirales contain pathogens that cause significant lethality. Importantly, within the Paramyxovirdae the
zoonotic henipavirus Hendra virus (HeV) is on the World Health Organizations (WHO) Priority Pathogens list.
Notably, henipaviruses stand out for their impressive lethality with case fatality rates averaging about 75%. The
Arenaviridae and Phelboviridae families contain viruses that cause severe hemorrhagic disease in humans.
These viruses include the arenaviruses Lassa virus (LASV) and Junin virus (JUNV) and the phleboviruses Rift
Valley fever virus (RVFV) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). LASV and RVFV
are also included among the WHO List of Priority Pathogens and pose threats to global public health due to the
absence of approved vaccines or therapeutics. There is a clear unmet need for medical countermeasures to
combat the threat of natural outbreaks, epidemics, or deliberate release. The synergistic activities of the Center
partners will be focused on developing novel vaccines, treatments, and tools to support pandemic
preparedness. Federal law requires that the paramyxoviruses, arenaviruses, and phleboviruses used in the
Center be handled in approved Biosafety Level (BSL)-3 and BSL-4 containment laboratories. Core D provides
approved BSL-3/ABSL-3 and BSL-4/ABSL-4 facilities and a trained and highly experienced team of BSL-3 and
BSL-4 investigators and staff to perform studies that support Project 2 - 5. The services provided by Core D will
include 1) a secure repository of well characterized seed stocks of BSL-3 and BSL-4 paramyxoviruses,
arenaviruses, and phleboviruses and know-how to rescue synthetic infectious clones (e.g. Ghana virus, GhV
for this U19); 2) in vitro antiviral activity assays; 3) procurement of UTMB IACUC approval of animal protocols;
4) procurement, housing, and husbandry of animals; 5); development and/or optimization of animal models for
GhV, Sosuga virus (SOSV) and JUNV to fill gaps where models are needed; 6) virus challenge, treatment, and
collection of samples from animals; 7) technical expertise and equipment to conduct clinical pathological,
immunological, and virological analysis of samples and to perform necropsies in BSL-3 and BLS-4
containment; 8) histopathological analysis of tissues collected from animals infected with BSL-3 and BSL-4
viruses; and 9) quality systems management of all records and data collected from animal studies. The Animal
Models and Vaccine Evaluation Scientific Core (Core D) provides BSL-3 and BSL-4 resources and expertise
for Projects 2 – 5. The goal of Core D is to work closely with Research Project and Scientific Core Leaders and
staff, the Scientific Advisory Board, and NIAID to advance the development of countermeasures against
Paramyxoviridae and Bunyaviridae.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10861409
- **Project number:** 1U19AI181881-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas William Geisbert
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $5,867,641
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-12 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10861409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10861409, Core D: Animal models and vaccine evaluation (1U19AI181881-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10861409. Licensed CC0.

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