Creating enhanced CAR T cells to fight HIV
Official title: Developing Durable, Env-Boosted CAR T Cells for HIV Cure
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-10991673 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment that uses your own immune cells to better find and destroy cells infected with HIV, aiming to make these cells work longer and more effectively in your body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | November 2, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $814,373 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI170214-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991673 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are currently on antiretroviral therapy and have a detectable viral load.
✕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 new type of CAR T cell therapy specifically designed to target and eliminate HIV-infected cells. The approach involves modifying patients' own T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor that recognizes HIV proteins, enhancing their ability to identify and destroy infected cells. The researchers aim to address challenges such as the low visibility of HIV-infected cells and the decline in CAR T cell effectiveness over time. By boosting these modified T cells with additional stimuli, the goal is to improve their persistence and function in the body.
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: While CAR T cell therapies have shown success in treating certain cancers, the application of this technology for HIV is still in early stages, making this approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peterson, Christopher W — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Peterson, Christopher W
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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.