B cell engineering and clinical core for HIV bnAb durability
Official title: B cell engineering and clinical core
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11404850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center-led effort to engineer a patient’s own B cells to produce long-lasting HIV antibodies, aiming to help people with HIV maintain viral suppression without constant therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $634,402 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL183482-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404850 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with HIV who are willing to donate tissue samples or participate in studies related to B cell engineering and bnAb development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not suitable for tissue donation or who cannot participate in advanced immunology studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports creating and refining autologous B cell engineering so patients can have sustained antibody levels that keep HIV under control. Researchers will work with samples from people with HIV, as well as animal models, to optimize antibody-producing B cells and test their function. The core will provide biological samples and initial characterizations to support multiple projects and will use organoid models and animal tissues to study how engineered B cells behave. Collaboration with industry partners will help translate these B cell technologies toward clinical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from longer-lasting antibody-based protection against HIV, potentially reducing dependence on daily ART.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work in engineered B cells and bnAbs has shown promise, but durability in humans remains a key challenge.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, David Mitchell — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Smith, David Mitchell
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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.