Creating new viruses to study HIV persistence in the brain of monkeys
Development and Use of Novel SHIVs Bearing Clinically Relevant HIV-1 Envs for Examining HIV Persistence and Eradication in the CNS of Nonhuman Primates
This study is looking at how HIV can hide in the brain and cause problems after treatment stops, using a special model that mimics human conditions, to help us learn more about the virus and improve care for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10672903 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) model to investigate how HIV-1 persists in the central nervous system (CNS) of nonhuman primates. By mimicking the conditions found in humans with HIV, the study aims to understand the role of CNS reservoirs in viral rebound after antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped. The researchers will create and test different SHIV clones that replicate in specific immune cells, allowing them to observe the progression of CNS disease over time. This approach provides insights that are difficult to obtain from human studies due to ethical and practical limitations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are undergoing antiretroviral therapy and have concerns about viral persistence in the CNS.
Not a fit: Patients who are not living with HIV or those who are not on antiretroviral therapy may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for eradicating HIV from the CNS, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using animal models to study HIV persistence, but this specific approach with novel SHIVs is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joseph, Sarah Beth — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Joseph, Sarah Beth
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 below.