HIV immunology core supporting antibody and immune response work
Core 3 - Immunobiology Core
This team uses lab tests and antibody-sorting to help scientists see how HIV's outer protein changes and how the immune system reacts in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11397293 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This immunobiology core provides centralized lab services to study how the HIV-1 Envelope (Env) protein changes during infection and how B cells and T cells respond. The team runs cellular and molecular immune tests, measures peptide presentation on MHCII, and examines B cell receptor signaling in cell lines and engineered mice. They also perform single B cell sorting from people with HIV to recover and produce Env-specific antibodies. The core supports multiple projects at the Duke Center for HIV Structural Biology to link viral structure to immune responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults living with HIV who can provide blood samples and share basic treatment and health history.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those looking for immediate clinical treatment changes should not expect direct personal medical benefit from this lab-focused core.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify antibodies and immune mechanisms that lead to better vaccines or curative strategies for people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Methods like single B cell sorting and antibody isolation have previously led to discovery of broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies, so the approach builds on proven techniques.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cain, Derek Wilson — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Cain, Derek Wilson
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.