Gene therapy that teaches your body to make many antibodies against HIV
Official title: Polyclonal Bi-Specific Vectored ImmunoTherapy to Functionally Cure HIV Infection
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11302703 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to use a one-time gene treatment to make a person’s own body produce a mix of antibodies that block and suppress HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,052,100 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1DA060607-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11302703 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Potential future trial candidates would be adults living with HIV who meet clinical trial eligibility and are interested in gene-based immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, and those who cannot receive gene-transfer treatments due to medical contraindications, pregnancy, or age restrictions, are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
The team is designing genetic vectors that instruct cells to produce many different HIV-fighting antibodies inside the body. They will first compare different vector designs in lab-grown cell tests to see which make the most effective antibody mixtures. The most promising designs will then be tested in mice and in non-human primates to check how well they express antibodies, how long the effect lasts, and whether they prevent the virus from escaping. The overall aim is to create a durable, polyclonal immune response that could stop HIV from rebounding and move toward a functional cure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a one-time or limited gene-based therapy that keeps HIV suppressed without lifelong daily pills.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies and early human work with vectored antibodies have shown promise but remain experimental, and producing durable multi-antibody responses is a newer approach with limited human data.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin
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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.