Chapman University Researchers Awarded Grant to Study Impact of Human Metapneumovirus on Infants and Children

Sun (Coco) Yang from Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy in collaboration with Cyril Rakovski from Schmid College of Science and Technology, has been awarded the Merck Investigator-Initiated Study Grant of $130,000 for their project “Evaluating the Impact of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) Infection on Infants and Children During the COVID and RSV Control Era.”

The study will involve a retrospective big data analysis to test the hypothesis that hMPV epidemiology in infants and young children has undergone significant changes, particularly in light of RSV control efforts. A proof-of-concept study will also be conducted to explore whether an upward trend in severe hMPV infections and hospitalizations has emerged in the U.S. following the widespread use of RSV vaccines and immunoprophylaxis.

This interdisciplinary team, led by Dr. Yang, will investigate changes in hMPV infection rates among infants and young children, further characterizing the infection’s impact across different age groups. She shared, “Children are not just small adults. Our research should reflect this understanding to truly make a difference in their lives, translating today’s discoveries into tomorrow’s cures.”

In the United States each year, human metapneumovirus is associated with approximately 20,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years, according to the CDC.

This research is expected to provide critical insights into the changing landscape of pediatric respiratory infections and inform future strategies for managing these diseases.

###

About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university in Orange, California, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. Chapman serves nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can choose from 123 areas of study within 11 colleges for a personalized education. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. Students at Chapman learn directly from distinguished world-class faculty including Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur fellows, published authors and Academy Award winners. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The university features the No. 4 film school and No. 66 business school in the U.S. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.