This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Hepatitis C virus infection is a growing public health problem for which there is no vaccine. My initial research is to develop an animal model that will enable the understanding of HCV and further enable researchers to analyze the immune responses in chimpanzees that are chronically infected with HCV and humans who have acute HCV infection. Funding from the Woodruff Foundation has been instrumental in allowing the preliminary data generated thus far to serve as a stepping-stone to apply for extramural funding, specifically two NIH R01 submissions. The preliminary data that was generated from the characterization of the immune responses in the na ve, chronic and previously HCV-exposed animals provided the foundation for submission of an extramural RO1 grant application to study similar responses in the blood and liver of HCV-infected human patients in June. The study was reviewed by NIH and received a score of 184 and 24th percentile. This R01 grant was resubmitted for the March 1 deadline. Secondly, the preliminary data obtained from the characterization of the immune response in the chimpanzees provided impetus to apply for the resubmission of an R01 grant for the November 1, 2005 deadline. This grant was reviewed in February and we will soon know the score and funding potential. Key personnel recruited during this year include Dr. Mariam Nix, a talented postdoctoral fellow from Albert Einstein School of Medicine with a keen interest in viral immunology. She will be spearheading the research on baseline and new infections in the chimpanzee model. Additionally, Drs. Guaniri Mateu, Hank Radziewicz; student, Luke Uebelhoer; and research specialist, Hirotomo Nakahara remain crucial members of the team as the studies progress.
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