Developing specialized immune cells to fight HIV-1
Engineering CAR-B cells for an HIV-1 functional cure
This project is creating a new way to use your body's own immune cells to continuously fight HIV-1, aiming for a long-lasting control of the virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Current HIV treatments require regular infusions or daily pills, which can be costly and inconvenient. This approach aims to engineer your B cells, a type of immune cell, to produce powerful antibodies that can keep HIV-1 in check. By teaching these cells to adapt and improve over time, like your natural immune system, the goal is to provide a more effective and permanent way to suppress the virus. This could potentially free individuals from the need for daily medication or frequent infusions, offering a significant improvement in quality of life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with established HIV-1 infection who are seeking alternative, long-lasting treatment options might be ideal candidates for future clinical applications.
Not a fit: Individuals who do not have HIV-1 infection or those whose specific viral strains may not respond to the developed antibodies would not benefit from this particular approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a long-term "functional cure" for HIV-1, allowing patients to live without daily antiretroviral therapy.
How similar studies have performed: While passive antibody infusions have shown temporary effects, this novel approach of engineering B cells for adaptive, long-term antibody production is largely untested in humans for HIV-1.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Farzan, Michael R. — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Farzan, Michael R.
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.