Finding and targeting hidden HIV in the gut
Official title: Multiomics characterization, induction, and elimination of the HIV gut reservoir
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11325760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks for hidden HIV in the gut of people living with HIV who have undetectable viral loads and tries drug combinations on their cells to wake and help remove infected cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $758,183 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131526-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable viral load, including pre- and post-menopausal women and clinically matched men able to undergo gut biopsy.
✕Less likely to help
People with detectable virus who are not on suppressive ART, pregnant people, or anyone unable or unwilling to undergo gut biopsy procedures are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You would be asked to join if you are a person living with HIV with a suppressed viral load; the team will collect gut biopsy samples and matched blood. Researchers will profile individual cells from the gut using single-cell RNA, surface protein, and T cell clone tracking to find which cells hold HIV and what makes them persist. In laboratory tests on your donated gut cells they will apply combinations of next-generation latency-reversing drugs to try to expose infected cells. Advanced protein-based CyTOF measurements and computational analyses will be used to identify biomarkers and the most promising drug combinations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify ways to expose and remove hidden HIV in the gut, a key step toward cure strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Some latency-reversing drugs have shown ability to wake HIV in blood or animal models, but successfully clearing the gut reservoir in people remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roan, Nadia R — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Roan, Nadia 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.