Gene therapy that teaches your body to make many antibodies against HIV
Polyclonal Bi-Specific Vectored ImmunoTherapy to Functionally Cure HIV Infection
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 ID | NIH-11302703 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Potential future trial candidates would be adults living with HIV who meet clinical trial eligibility and are interested in gene-based immunotherapy.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Balazs, Alejandro Benjamin
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.