Creating a new type of immune therapy to potentially cure HIV
Official title: Development of Allogeneic CAR T Cell Therapy for a Functional Cure of HIV Infection
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11031419 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of treatment using specially modified immune cells to help people with HIV fight the virus better, so they might not need to take their usual medications all the time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $471,626 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170189-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031419 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are seeking alternative treatment options beyond standard antiretroviral therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not living with HIV or those who have advanced AIDS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel CAR T cell therapy aimed at achieving a functional cure for HIV infection. By utilizing allogeneic T cells, the study seeks to enhance the immune response against HIV-infected cells, which are often resistant to traditional treatments. The approach involves engineering T cells to specifically target and eliminate these infected cells, potentially allowing patients to maintain viral suppression without ongoing antiretroviral therapy. The research builds on previous successes in cancer immunotherapy and aims to translate these findings to HIV treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a functional cure for HIV, significantly improving the quality of life for patients living with the virus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using CAR T cell therapies for cancer, and initial studies suggest potential effectiveness against HIV, making this approach both innovative and based on successful methodologies.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutwell, Christian L. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Boutwell, Christian L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Off-the-shelf CAR T cells to achieve long-term control of HIV
This project will develop donor-derived CAR T cells for people living with HIV to control or eliminate the virus so they may not need daily antiretroviral drugs.
-
A new treatment using CAR-T cells for chronic HIV infection
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Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
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A study from Duke aims to understand heart health and protein biomarkers in children who were exposed to or infected with HIV at birth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
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This project studies how HBV-specific B and T cell responses relate to curing hepatitis B in people with and without HIV.
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HBV cure factors in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific immune cells behave during treatment and whether people with HIV respond differently than those without HIV.
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.