Hidden HIV in lung immune cells during effective treatment
Official title: Virologic and immunologic impacts of active viral persistence in lung AMs of HIV-1-infected, cART-suppressed individuals
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11518107 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether HIV stays active inside lung immune cells of people on effective HIV therapy and how that activity might affect immune health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | May 17, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $152,468 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI176934-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518107 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who are on suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (undetectable plasma viral load) and willing to provide lung samples (for example via bronchoscopy/bronchoalveolar lavage) and blood are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People not on ART, children, or anyone unwilling or unable to undergo lung sample procedures are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect lung immune cells (alveolar macrophages) and blood from people living with HIV who have undetectable viral loads while on combination antiretroviral therapy. They will use sensitive molecular tests, protein detection, and sequencing to find HIV RNA or proteins inside those lung cells and measure how the cells respond. Laboratory functional studies will test whether persistent viral products drive inflammation or other immune changes, and comparisons with blood cells will show how lung reservoirs differ. The team aims to map the presence and consequences of active virus in lung tissue to inform future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal a hidden source of HIV-driven inflammation and help guide therapies to reduce immune activation and lower the chance of virus returning after stopping treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown active HIV reservoirs in blood T cells but studies focused on lung alveolar macrophages are limited, so this approach is relatively novel while using established lab methods.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boliar, Saikat — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Boliar, Saikat
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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.