Estimating how long someone has had HIV and tracking new infections using multiple biomarkers
Official title: Next-generation algorithms using multiple biomarkers for precise estimation of HIV infection duration and population level incidence
Funded at Triad National Security, LLC · NIH-11067858 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops lab tests and computer methods that use several HIV markers to give a clearer estimate of how long someone has been infected and to better track new infections in communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Triad National Security, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Alamos, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 3, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $688,139 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI152897-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067858 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people newly diagnosed with HIV or people who can share stored blood samples and testing history for biomarker measurement.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those unwilling or unable to provide samples or testing records are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If I provide a blood sample or testing records, researchers will measure several HIV biomarkers and combine them with surveillance data to estimate when I was likely infected. Instead of a simple 'recent' or 'long-term' label, the team will produce a probability range for time-since-infection that reflects uncertainty. They will also model how many people with HIV are undiagnosed or newly entering a population to improve community-level incidence numbers. The overall aim is to give public health programs faster, more accurate information to guide testing and prevention where it's most needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give public health teams more accurate and timely estimates of new HIV infections to better target prevention and testing efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Related multi-assay biomarker methods have improved incidence estimates in some settings, but this proposal applies a more precise probabilistic and population-level approach that is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Triad National Security, LLC
Los Alamos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leitner, Thomas K. — Triad National Security, LLC
- Study coordinator: Leitner, Thomas K.
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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.