Engineered bacteriophage therapy to make blood stem cells resistant to HIV
Engineering Bacteriophage T4 as a Targeted Gene Therapy Drug for in vivo HIV Cure
This work is developing an engineered bacteriophage that aims to edit a person’s blood-forming stem cells inside the body so those cells and their descendants are resistant to HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Catholic University of America NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302714 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a treatment that uses a tiny engineered virus shell (bacteriophage T4) to find and enter your hematopoietic stem cells and deliver gene-editing tools. The goal is to create a CCR5 delta-32 change in those stem cells so new blood cells lack the HIV entry receptor. Researchers will first pick molecules that let the bacteriophage bind specifically to human stem cells using cord blood samples, then test delivery, safety, and editing efficiency in the lab and in preclinical models before any human dosing. If later moved into trials, the approach aims to be a one-time in-body treatment rather than ongoing daily medication.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults living with HIV who are medically eligible for gene-therapy trials and willing to take part in early-phase safety studies, potentially including people with difficulty adhering to antiretroviral therapy.
Not a fit: People whose virus primarily uses a different entry receptor (e.g., CXCR4-using HIV), those who cannot undergo gene-modifying procedures, pregnant people, or those with certain serious medical conditions may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this could become a one-time in-body therapy that makes a person’s immune cells resistant to HIV and could reduce or eliminate the need for lifelong antiretroviral drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Removing CCR5 from transplanted stem cells has cured a few individuals after bone marrow transplants, but using an engineered bacteriophage to edit stem cells inside the body is novel and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- Catholic University of America — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rao, Venigalla B. — Catholic University of America
- Study coordinator: Rao, Venigalla B.
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.