Early treatment approaches to shrink HIV's hidden reservoir and boost immune control
Early interventions at ART initiation to reduce the HIV-1 reservoir and enhance adaptive immune responses
This project tests whether giving a powerful HIV antibody together with antiretroviral therapy when treatment starts helps people living with HIV keep their immune responses strong and reduce the hidden HIV reservoir.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172484 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you start HIV treatment and receive the broadly neutralizing antibody 3BNC117 at the same time, researchers will study blood samples already collected in the eCLEAR trial to see how your immune cells and the remaining virus change. The team will profile CD8+ T cell types, function, and gene activity and will analyze which viral variants persist in the reservoir. Work is done by investigators at University of Pennsylvania, Weill Cornell, and Aarhus University using laboratory and genomic methods to link immune features with reservoir outcomes. The goal is to identify immune responses and viral features that explain why some people controlled virus better after this early antibody treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People newly diagnosed with HIV who are just beginning antiretroviral therapy—especially those eligible for early antibody-based interventions—would be the ideal candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: People who have been on ART for many years, or whose virus is not sensitive to the specific antibody used, are less likely to benefit from this early-intervention strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments given at the start of ART that help people better control HIV or shrink the pool of hidden virus.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work, including the eCLEAR phase 1b/2a trial, showed promising but partial success using a similar antibody-plus-ART approach, so this effort builds on those initial positive signals.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Betts, Michael R — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Betts, 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.