Developing new HIV-1 vaccine immunogens using advanced protein design
Official title: Deep Learning-based Protein Design of HIV-1 Env GP120 Core Immunogens for CD4 Binding Site Germline Targeting
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11037997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to create an HIV vaccine by designing special proteins that can better trigger the immune system, and it's for anyone interested in helping improve vaccine development for HIV.
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 | February 16, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $772,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183406-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are at risk of HIV infection and may benefit from advancements in vaccine technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already HIV-positive or those who do not have a risk of HIV exposure may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating innovative immunogens for an HIV-1 vaccine by employing cutting-edge protein design techniques and deep learning methods. The study aims to overcome limitations of traditional approaches by utilizing advanced tools like RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, and AlphaFold2 to design gp120 cores that target germline antibodies. The research involves in vitro testing to evaluate how well these immunogens bind to various antibodies and using transgenic mice to study the immune response generated by these new immunogens. The goal is to enhance the understanding of how these immunogens can stimulate effective B cell responses and improve vaccine development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of a more effective HIV-1 vaccine, potentially reducing the incidence of HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using advanced protein design techniques for vaccine development, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pancera, Marie — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Pancera, Marie
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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.