HIV latency reversal: unlocking viral reactivation across HIV subtypes
Official title: Cellular mechanisms promoting early reactivation of latent HIV across clades
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11470655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher-led project aims to uncover new ways to reactivate latent HIV in immune cells so that treatment interruption could be possible for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $884,647 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI195257-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and could participate in future latency-reversal studies or related translational research.
✕Less likely to help
People not suitable for latency-reversal research or without involvement in HIV reservoir studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates how HIV stays dormant in memory T cells and tests new chemical activators that boost HIV transcription. It focuses on how the host and virus interact to bring the necessary transcription machinery to the viral genome, with attention to different HIV subtypes. By combining small-molecule compounds, the work seeks to overcome epigenetic barriers that keep HIV silent and to compare reactivation across clades in primary human T cells. The ultimate goal is to develop a broadly effective latency-reversal approach that could enable strategies like Shock and Kill. The study is conducted in primary human cells, with potential implications for future clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform strategies to safely and effectively reduce latent HIV reservoirs, potentially helping people on therapy achieve longer remission or functional cure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown limited success with latency-reversing agents, making broadly effective reactivation across clades a high-priority but challenging goal.
Where this research is happening
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Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mbonye, Uri — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Mbonye, Uri
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.