Broadly neutralizing nanobodies to improve HIV therapy
Official title: Development of Broadly Neutralizing Nanobodies for Advancing AIDS Therapy
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11553145 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing tiny antibodies called nanobodies to target HIV in new ways that could make treatments easier and more effective for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $847,478 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI186812-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11553145 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people living with HIV who may benefit from novel antibody-based therapies, including those with difficulty achieving viral suppression on current treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for antibody-based therapies or with contraindications to such biologics may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on creating and refining nanobodies that can recognize multiple parts of the HIV envelope protein to prevent the virus from escaping treatment. The project uses advanced screening methods to identify versatile nanobodies and then engineers them to improve potency and breadth against diverse HIV strains. By pursuing simpler delivery and potentially better patient outcomes, the work aims to advance HIV therapy beyond current antibody approaches. The study is conducted at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia under the direction of Dr. Jianliang Xu.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective antibody-based therapies that work against a wider range of HIV strains and potentially simpler treatment regimens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous bnAb research showed promise, but nanobody-based approaches are a newer, potentially more versatile direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Jianliang — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Xu, Jianliang
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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.