# Role of virus-receptor interactions in determining norovirus tropism and pathogenesis in vivo

> **NIH NIH K08** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $186,734

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 This proposal describes a five-year career development program for the PI, Craig Wilen, M.D., Ph.D. to
with the goal of preparing him for an independent research career as an academic physician-scientist. The PI
graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Biology and Economics.
He then enrolled in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Pennsylvania where he earned
his M.D. and Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Wilen continued his training as a resident physician in
the Clinical Pathology Physician Scientist Training Program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington
University. During his residency elective time, he embarked on basic science research in the lab of Dr. Herbert
Virgin, who will serve as the research mentor in this proposal. Dr. Virgin is the Chair of the Department of
Pathology and Immunology at Washington University and is a highly experienced and productive mentor of
physician-scientists and a leading expert in viral pathogenesis and immunity. Dr. Wilen will continue his
postdoctoral research in this lab.
 Washington University provides outstanding faculty members, collaborators, and core research facilities
that will foster Dr. Wilen's scientific progress and career development. First, Dr. Wilen's Career Advisory
Committee comprised of Drs. Diamond, Goldberg, Randolph, and Stappenbeck has extensive scientific
expertise relevant to this proposal and highly successful track records as mentors. Second, the educational
resources including the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences will
enable Dr. Wilen to acquire and develop additional scientific and professional skills. Third, the research
infrastructure within the Virgin lab and Washington University core facilities will enable Dr. Wilen to efficiently
and skillfully address the scientific aims described herein. In summary, Washington University provides the
ideal environment and resources for Dr. Wilen to develop and establish his independent career studying how
viruses interact with the immune system to cause disease.
 The long-term goal of this study is to understand the role of virus-receptor interactions in
governing murine norovirus tropism and pathogenesis in vivo. Murine norovirus is an important model for
human norovirus, which is the primary cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide. In addition, murine norovirus
has been demonstrated to trigger inflammatory bowel disease in mice with certain genetic predispositions.
However, the determinants of murine norovirus tropism and pathogenesis, and the mechanism of virus-
induced enteric inflammation remain unknown. During Dr. Wilen's brief time in the Virgin lab, he performed a
genome-wide CRISPR screen that identified CD300lf as a receptor for murine norovirus. Dr. Wilen is co-first
author on a manuscript currently under review at Science describing this finding. This work has important
implica...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9831093
- **Project number:** 5K08AI128043-04
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Craig Brian Wilen
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $186,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-15 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9831093

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9831093, Role of virus-receptor interactions in determining norovirus tropism and pathogenesis in vivo (5K08AI128043-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9831093. Licensed CC0.

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