Adjusting T cells to help clear hidden HIV
Modulating T Cell Activation to Combat HIV Persistence
Changing the way T cells respond to help people with HIV remove the hidden virus that remains during antiretroviral treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177914 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at why HIV-specific CD8+ T cells remain poorly responsive in people with HIV on ART and how a reservoir of latently infected CD4+ T cells evades detection. Researchers will analyze blood cells from people with HIV to identify molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that make T cells less sensitive to viral antigen and to study how monocyte–T cell interactions affect that sensitivity. They will then test laboratory approaches to change T cell activation thresholds to improve recognition and killing of infected cells. The findings are intended to guide development of immune-based treatments aimed at shrinking the persistent HIV reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who are on suppressive antiretroviral therapy and willing to donate blood or other immune samples are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those not on ART, or individuals with severely compromised immune systems are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to immune-based therapies that shrink or eliminate hidden HIV and reduce the need for lifelong ART.
How similar studies have performed: Previous immune-based strategies have shown limited or mixed results in achieving HIV cure, and this project builds on novel findings about T cell activation that are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collins, David Randolph — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Collins, David Randolph
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 below.