Creating engineered immune responses to fight HIV infection
Official title: Polyclonal Bi-Specific Vectored ImmunoTherapy to Functionally Cure HIV Infection
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11088285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with HIV by training the immune system to create special antibodies that can fight the virus and adapt to its changes, with the hope of finding a lasting solution for managing the infection.
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 start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,052,100 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1DA060607-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who have advanced AIDS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new approach to combat HIV by engineering the immune system to produce multi-specific polyclonal antibodies. These antibodies are designed to neutralize the HIV virus and resist mutations that typically allow the virus to escape treatment. The research will involve testing various vector designs in laboratory assays and then advancing the most promising candidates to animal models, including mice and non-human primates, to evaluate their effectiveness in controlling HIV infection. The goal is to achieve a functional cure for HIV by enhancing the body's natural immune response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a functional cure for HIV, significantly improving the quality of life for those living with the virus.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of engineering immune responses is innovative, similar strategies have shown promise in other infectious diseases, suggesting potential for success in this area as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This project aims to use a one-time gene treatment to make a person’s own body produce a mix of antibodies that block and suppress HIV.
-
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Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
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Aims to develop computer methods to discover tumor-specific targets presented by HLA-E to guide new T cell therapies for cancer.
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Cardiac health and protein markers in kids with perinatal HIV exposure or infection
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.
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.