Helping the immune system make stronger antibodies against HIV
Official title: Maximizing germinal centers and somatic hypermutation to HIV Env immunogens
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11131378 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing slow-release vaccine approaches to help people's immune systems produce stronger, broader antibodies that can neutralize HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | April 16, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $959,683 |
| NIH project number | 4R37AI125068-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131378 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future human trials would be adults at risk for HIV infection who are eligible for preventive vaccine studies at participating clinical sites.
✕Less likely to help
People already living with HIV or those not eligible for vaccine trials would not expect direct benefit from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
We are trying new slow-release vaccine delivery methods in laboratory and animal work to encourage bigger and better germinal centers, the parts of the immune system that refine antibody quality. Researchers take small, repeated lymph node samples and sequence B cell receptors to watch how antibody responses develop over time. They compare slow-release approaches with standard vaccine injections to see which prompts more helpful T follicular helper cells and higher-quality neutralizing antibodies. Results will be used to design future human vaccine strategies aimed at preventing HIV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that teach the immune system to make broadly neutralizing antibodies that prevent HIV infection.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies using slow-delivery immunization have produced substantially stronger neutralizing antibody responses, but human evidence is not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crotty, Shane P — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Crotty, Shane P
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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.