A $21 million grant will help researchers at the University of Michigan Health System better understand the HIV virus on a molecular level, potentially paving the way for new treatment approaches to AIDS and other diseases.
Dr. Alice Telesnitsky, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School
A $21 million grant will help researchers at the University of Michigan Health System better understand the HIV virus on a molecular level, potentially paving the way for new treatment approaches to AIDS and other diseases.
The National Institutes of Health grant, which will be distributed during a five-year period, establishes the Center for HIV RNA Studies, or CRNA.
Alice Telesnitsky, PhD, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the U-M Medical School, will head the CRNA and says the grant brings together researchers in a variety of disciplines to tackle the sometimes tricky HIV-1 RNA molecule, which plays an essential role in a virus ability to reproduce itself.
Viruses are made up of proteins and RNA, and most research focuses on the proteins, she says. Because RNA is a simple molecule, it can sometimes appear nondescript when we look at it. This grant will unite a team of people who will look at RNA on different scales, assessing its structure, movement and replication.
Telesnitsky says a better understanding of RNAs biological processes could ultimately lead to innovative treatments for AIDS and other human diseases.
Researchers from Telesnitskys lab at U-M, as well as scientists from 13 other institutions across the country, will use the NIH grant to take a multidisciplinary approach to the research.
Telesnitsky says the team includes world leaders in fields such as structural biology, chemistry, cell and computation biology, molecular biology and virology.
Funding for the grant comes from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the NIHs National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This is an absolutely outstanding group of structural biologists and virologists focused on an understudied yet critical component of the HIV virionthe genomic RNA, says Michael Sakalian, PhD, the NIGMS official who oversees the grant for the specialized center. Their efforts to elucidate the structural and functional roles of RNA in the viral life cycle will advance our fundamental understanding of host-virus interactions as well as identify potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Source: University of Michigan Health System
Â
Dear Helpdesk: Working in a Toxic Health Care Environment
March 28th 2024Dear Helpdesk is your steadfast companion, offering life coaching and workplace advice from 2 seasoned IPs for some of your most challenging real-life situations. Let us help you navigate the intersection between work and life, guiding you to navigate the dynamic world of infection prevention with confidence and grace. This article is on handling a toxic health care environment.
Product Locator: Spring and Early Mother's Day Gift Guide for Infection Prevention Personnel
March 27th 2024Whether it's a spring holiday, birthdays, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers some gift ideas for infection prevention personnel and their families.
Catching Up With Vangie Dennis, AORN 2022-2023 President at AORN 2024
March 26th 2024Infection Control Today (ICT) had the privilege of catching up with Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses' (AORN’s) International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024. As the former president of AORN and an esteemed figure in perioperative services, Vangie Dennis shared insights into her recent endeavors and the exciting new chapter she's embarked upon.
How To Optimize Your Time Management Strategies for the Busy Infection Preventionist
March 25th 2024Is your calendar resembling a chaotic masterpiece of overlapping tasks? Join the club of infection preventionists striving to balance responsibilities. Dive into proven strategies from a fellow infection preventionist to reclaim control of your time, streamline tasks, and boost productivity effectively. This is an IP Lifeline article.