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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A Virginia Tech virologist just scored a rare $2.01 million federal grant to study how infected cells decide to live or die — and what those decisions mean for fighting viruses and cancer. James Weger-Lucarelli's five-year NIGMS award will explore cell death signaling in 3D tissue models, with a side focus on oncolytic viruses as a potential treatment for glioblastoma.
Every time your body battles a virus, individual cells are making life-or-death calls that shape whether an infection spreads or gets stopped in its tracks. Now, a Virginia Tech researcher has secured major federal funding to figure out exactly how those decisions are made — and how viruses try to hijack them.
James Weger-Lucarelli, an associate professor at Virginia Tech's College of Veterinary Medicine, received a five-year, $2.01 million R35 MIRA grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Unlike traditional grants that fund a single hypothesis, this award backs his entire research program — giving him the flexibility to follow unexpected findings wherever they lead.
A key part of the work involves studying cell behavior in 3D tissue models rather than flat lab dishes. The difference is striking: in standard 2D culture, viruses kill cells within two days, but in 3D models, the same cells survive a week or more. The lab is also collaborating on oncolytic viruses — engineered to target and destroy tumor cells — as a potential glioblastoma treatment, with dogs serving as a natural clinical model.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Understanding the molecular tug-of-war between viruses and host cells could unlock smarter antiviral strategies and more effective cancer treatments — with real implications for patients facing some of the hardest-to-treat diseases.
