Finding Hidden HIV in Lung Blood Vessels
Official title: Investigating Novel HIV Reservoirs in the Pulmonary Vasculature
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Scis Center · NIH-11167544 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to find where HIV hides in the body, specifically in the lung's blood vessels, to help us get closer to a cure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Scis Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $189,570 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI181657-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167544 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work could eventually benefit all individuals living with HIV by informing future treatment strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Even with effective medications, HIV can remain hidden in certain cells, making it difficult to fully eliminate the virus from the body. These hidden virus 'reservoirs' can reactivate and cause the infection to return if treatment is stopped. Our team is looking into whether cells in the blood vessels of the lungs might be one of these overlooked hiding spots for HIV. We believe that understanding these hidden locations is a crucial step toward developing strategies to completely clear the virus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for therapies aimed at completely eliminating HIV from the body, leading to a potential cure.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies by this team and others suggest that these lung cells can be infected with HIV, indicating a promising direction for further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Almodovar, Sharilyn — Texas Tech University Health Scis Center
- Study coordinator: Almodovar, Sharilyn
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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.