Advancing DNA-based HIV vaccines and handheld delivery devices
Vaccine and adjuvant Clinical GMP product development and DNA Technology platform enhancements
This project makes DNA-based HIV vaccine products and a compact electroporation device so vaccine doses can be manufactured under clinical rules and later offered to people in vaccine trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, the team is producing two DNA vaccine candidates under strict cGMP rules so they can be made into vialed doses for human use. They will test those products in animal models using a portable CELLECTRA 3PSP electroporation device and refine dual-antigen and IL-12 cytokine DNA constructs to boost immune responses. The manufactured product and supporting data are intended to support an IND submission and enable clinical trials run by the HVTN. Work is led by Inovio and the Wistar Institute with the goal of handing off clinical-ready vaccine material in years 4–5.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at higher risk of HIV infection or people interested in participating in future HVTN vaccine trials would be the likely candidates for subsequent clinical studies.
Not a fit: People who need immediate changes to their current HIV treatment or who are ineligible for clinical trials due to medical conditions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this manufacturing-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable new DNA-based HIV vaccines that are reliably manufactured and better at stimulating protective immunity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous DNA vaccine programs using in vivo electroporation have reached human trials but have not yet produced a broadly protective HIV vaccine, so this builds on prior work but remains novel in its specific constructs and manufacturing focus.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Wistar Institute — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Trevor — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Smith, Trevor
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.