Epitope-engineered stem cells to enable HIV cure with targeted CAR-T therapy
Official title: Epitope-engineered HSCs to permit CAR-T cell-mediated CD4-depletion for HIV cure
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11470027 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused plan to use a person’s own stem cells, edited to resist HIV and paired with specialized CAR-T cells, to clear HIV reservoirs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $707,928 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI197956-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470027 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with HIV who may be candidates for autologous HSCT-based therapies and potential future cellular curative approaches.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not eligible for autologous HSCT or who cannot tolerate stem cell editing and CAR-T procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to modify a person’s own hematopoietic stem cells so they can generate immune cells that resist HIV infection. It also includes designing CD4 variants that allow CAR-T cells to safely remove residual HIV-infected cells without harming normal immune function. The approach combines precise genome editing with targeted cell therapy, followed by an autologous transplantation process. If successful, this strategy could reduce or eliminate the need for donor transplants and improve long-term HIV control. Participants would potentially benefit from a novel treatment pathway aimed at achieving an HIV cure rather than lifelong therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could achieve better control or potential cure of HIV with their own edited cells.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that engineered immune cells can resist HIV and that CAR-T approaches can target HIV reservoirs, but the combination in autologous HSCT is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maldini, Colby R — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Maldini, Colby R
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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.