Hidden HIV in brain immune cells
Defining the HIV reservoir and latency mechanism in human brain myeloid cells
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11309994
This project looks at whether HIV can hide and remain dormant in certain immune cells in the brains of people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11309994 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with people who donate their bodies through the Last Gift program so lab teams can isolate brain myeloid cells and grow them for study. They will try to recover and sequence any HIV from those cells, test whether the recovered virus can infect other cells, and check which genes help infected brain cells survive. The team will compare these human-derived findings with animal and cell models to build a more realistic picture of HIV persistence in the central nervous system.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy who are willing to participate in an end-of-life donation program like the Last Gift and coordinate with the study team at UNC Chapel Hill.
Not a fit: People who do not have HIV or who are not enrolled in the Last Gift/end-of-life donation program would not directly participate or benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target HIV that hides in the brain and help guide cure-directed treatments for people living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Animal and laboratory cell models have suggested brain reservoirs of HIV, but human-based studies are rare and this human brain cell approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JIANG, GUOCHUN — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: JIANG, GUOCHUN
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