Engineered stem cells that produce HIV-fighting antibodies
Engineering pluripotent stem cells to evade and promote immunity
This project aims to create human stem cells that can be turned into antibody-making cells to help people living with or at risk for HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228793 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are editing human pluripotent stem cells to carry a broadly neutralizing HIV antibody and guiding those cells step-by-step to become transplantable plasma cells that can secrete the antibody. They will use single-cell transcriptional and epigenetic maps to steer differentiation and perform genetic and small-molecule screens to find factors that help or block each step. The team will test engineered cells in laboratory and preclinical models to see if they survive, produce antibodies, and avoid immune rejection. Although this work is currently preclinical, the aim is to lay the groundwork for a cell-based therapy that could one day provide long-lasting antibody protection against HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV or those at high risk for HIV who might qualify for future clinical trials of cell-based antibody therapies.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo cellular transplantation, who have conditions that cause immune rejection, or who need immediate standard-of-care treatments rather than experimental options may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a one-time or long-lasting cell therapy that continuously produces HIV-neutralizing antibodies, reducing infection risk or the need for repeated treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches such as delivering antibody genes have shown promise in animals and early human work, but using engineered pluripotent stem cells to make transplantable HIV-neutralizing plasma cells is novel and largely untested in people.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sturgeon, Christopher Michael — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sturgeon, Christopher Michael
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.