Gene therapy that targets brain immune cells to remove HIV
Official title: Brain myeloid cell-targeted multiplexed gene editing for SIV/HIV eradication
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11296929 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Develops a gene-editing approach delivered to brain immune cells to try to remove hidden HIV in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $754,354 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130193-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296929 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV—particularly those on long-term antiretroviral therapy who may have virus hidden in the central nervous system—would be the eventual candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those whose infection is fully controlled with no evidence of CNS involvement, or those who cannot tolerate gene therapy or have active brain inflammation are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are working on a gene-editing treatment delivered by a harmless virus to reach long-lived brain immune cells (microglia and perivascular macrophages) where HIV can hide. They are improving viral delivery tools so the therapy can cross the blood-brain barrier and specifically enter those myeloid cells. The approach is being tested in animal models (macaques infected with SIV) and builds on earlier AAV-CRISPR work that removed viral DNA in mice and primates. The team aims to find a safe way to clear brain reservoirs without triggering harmful inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help remove hidden HIV in the brain, reduce the chance of viral rebound, and move toward a durable cure.
How similar studies have gone: Similar AAV-CRISPR strategies have removed HIV/SIV DNA in humanized mice and nonhuman primates, but reliably targeting brain myeloid cells is a newer and still challenging goal.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ling, Binhua "Julie" — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Ling, Binhua "Julie"
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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.