Federal Grant Award Summary

Tufts University School of Medicine received a $243,600 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded on February 23, 2026, with completion by January 31, 2028. The grant funds research investigating the role of CLCC1, an endoplasmic reticulum protein, in herpesvirus nuclear egress—a critical early step in viral replication where herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) capsids exit the cell nucleus. The research builds on preliminary findings from a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen demonstrating that CLCC1 loss impairs nuclear envelope fusion and reduces viral titers, implicating CLCC1 as a key host factor facilitating membrane fusion during viral morphogenesis.

The funded research deliverables include characterization of CLCC1's structure and oligomeric state through biochemical and structural studies, investigation of CLCC1's membrane-remodeling capabilities using in vitro assays, and evaluation of structure-function relationships through mutagenesis and viral infection phenotype analysis. Successful completion will generate a mechanistic model of CLCC1 function that advances understanding of nuclear envelope fusion processes relevant to both viral infection and fundamental cell biology, potentially informing therapeutic strategies targeting herpesvirus replication.