Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai $858,841 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) beginning June 1, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. This Project Grant funds research to model monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection during pregnancy using both in vivo mouse models and ex vivo human placental tissue systems. The research will investigate how gestational age and viral clade variants influence infection outcomes, evaluate the efficacy of current and next-generation therapeutics alone and in combination, and map MPXV-infected cells at the maternal-fetal interface to elucidate mechanisms of vertical transmission and congenital infection.

The grant addresses critical gaps in understanding MPXV pathogenesis in pregnant populations, where recent outbreaks have been associated with fetal loss and neonatal death. Deliverables include development of animal model systems supporting MPXV infection during pregnancy, characterization of infection dynamics in human villous explant tissue, evaluation of therapeutic interventions targeting congenital mpox, and spatial mapping of viral infection sites at the placental barrier. This research is intended to generate insights necessary for developing targeted therapeutic approaches to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes from MPXV infection.