Researcher secures NIH funding to study hepatitis E virus
Veterinary college scientist to use MERIT funds to build on research
A researcher at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine received a $2 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue research into the hepatitis E virus (HEV).
X.J. Meng, MD, PhD, a distinguished professor of molecular virology at the veterinary college, has been studying various aspects of HEV and related illnesses for 25 years. He received the NIH’s Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) award, designed to provide long-term funding to researchers who have track records of research excellence and productivity. Researchers do not apply for the award. They’re nominated and approved by an NIH council.
Meng’s lab will receive the $2 million in funding over the next five years, after which the scientist may be eligible to renew the award for up to $2.4 million over the subsequent five years.
“This is a huge honor and privilege,” Meng, who is also a professor of internal medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, said in a university news story. “It is really gratifying to know that the program officers and other officials at NIH thought that the body of … work we’ve been doing here in the veterinary college over the last 25 years deserves long-term, stable support.”
Hepatitis, referring broadly to inflammation of the liver, is most often caused by a viral infection. HEV, the cause of hepatitis E, is spread through the fecal-oral route, with most people acquiring an infection via contaminated food or drinking water. In the majority of cases, infection with HEV is acute and resolves on its own, but for some, the infections can become chronic and lead to serious liver problems.
Understudied virus with no specific treatment
About 20 million HEV infections are estimated to occur each year, with more than one-sixth resulting in symptoms, according to the World Health Organization. HEV also infects more than a dozen animal species, in addition to humans.
Still, relative to other hepatitis viruses, HEV is relatively understudied, and there are no specific treatments for it.
Among Meng’s accomplishments is the discovery of forms of HEV that infect pigs and birds. He also discovered that these HEV infections could be transmitted between species. The researcher and his team have looked at various aspects of how the virus functions and leads to its consequences in humans and other species.
Meng plans to use the NIH funding to dive into some of the unanswered questions about HEV, including the mechanisms that underlie the development of chronic infections. Ultimately, the goal is to understand the basics of how HEV causes disease in order to develop effective therapies to combat it, including antiviral medications and vaccines.
Another focus for the laboratory is on pregnancy, where HEV infections are known to cause serious fetal and maternal consequences such as miscarriage, stillbirth, sudden liver failure, and death. In a 2023 study, Meng’s team discovered that a higher viral load, more inflammation, and higher levels of certain pregnancy hormones contribute to HEV infection-related severe pregnancy outcomes
Beyond the liver, HEV can also infect cells in the nervous system and cause neurological problems. Meng has also been focused on understanding how this happens, and the new funding will also be used to continue that work.
“This MERIT Award is also a recognition and reflection of many current and past members of my lab for their contributions to our research program,” Meng said. “I am also grateful for having many fantastic faculty collaborators over the years at Virginia Tech and beyond.”
Meng’s MERIT award is one of about 15 that are granted each year by the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, which has been funding the scientist’s research over the last decades.
He was nominated by NIH officials based on the high performance of his recent grant applications to the funding agency, including one last year that received a perfect score.
“X.J. Meng’s influential scholarship in applied virology is so very deserving of this rare and highly prestigious award,” said M. Daniel Givens, PhD, dean of the veterinary college.
Meng said the long-term grant will allow for more time to focus on studying HEV, and less time on the lengthy grant application process that’s normally required for research laboratories to secure funding.
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