Finding which cells HIV infects first after sexual exposure
Identification of the Initial Targets of Transmission
['FUNDING_R37'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11127514
Researchers are mapping the very first cells HIV infects after mucosal (sexual) exposure so future vaccines and prevention tools can block the virus earlier for people at risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11127514 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses advanced lab and animal methods to light up and track the first infected cells in tissues after mucosal HIV exposure, focusing on the first four days. Investigators use improved "beacon" reporter systems and detailed tissue analysis to locate expanding foci of infection and define the early cascade before the virus appears in the blood. The team characterizes which cell types and anatomical sites are initially targeted and how infection spreads locally. Results are intended to guide better vaccine, antibody, and drug strategies that stop HIV at the site of exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk of sexual HIV exposure, who could be candidates for future prevention trials or for donating samples to related studies, are the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People with longstanding, well-established HIV infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this prevention-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help design more effective vaccines, long-acting drugs, or antibody therapies that prevent HIV from taking hold after exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Prevention advances like long-acting cabotegravir and some broadly neutralizing antibodies have shown clinical promise, but the beacon-guided mapping of initial infected cells is a relatively novel laboratory approach building on earlier reporter techniques.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HOPE, THOMAS — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HOPE, THOMAS
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus