A new way to use antibodies to remove HIV-infected cells
Official title: A new strategy to eliminate HIV-1-infected cells by unlocking the Env trimer
Funded at Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med · NIH-11392351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing specially designed antibodies that target HIV-infected cells to help the immune system kill them through ADCC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,195 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI174908-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV-1 who may have persistent viral reservoirs and could potentially benefit from novel antibody therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV infection or those not on related immunotherapies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create antibody therapies that recognize HIV-infected cells more effectively, using CD4-induced Env epitopes to expose targets for immune attack. The approach builds on previous antibodies that work with CD4 and plasma to eliminate infected cells in lab and ex vivo settings. If successful, these antibodies could become a new family of treatments to reduce or remove HIV reservoirs in people living with HIV. The work involves engineering antibodies and testing them with HIV-positive samples to compare performance against existing antibodies. The ultimate goal is to enable more complete control or possible reduction of the virus in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this strategy could lead to more effective clearance of HIV-infected cells and a smaller viral reservoir in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous antibody-CD4 hybrids have shown promise in reducing infected cells in lab and ex vivo studies, supporting continued development.
Where this research is happening
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Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
Bethesda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pazgier, Marzena Elzbieta — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Pazgier, Marzena Elzbieta
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.