HIV reservoirs in the gut and how they reactivate when treatment stops
Official title: Impact of the gastrointestinal microbiome on HIV reservoirs
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11124594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how HIV hides in the gut and why it can come back when ART is paused, with the goal of guiding better cure strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 21, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $594,317 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131585-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV on ART who may be candidates for future cure studies or samples related to HIV reservoirs.
✕Less likely to help
This project is a basic science study and may not directly benefit patients in the short term.
What this research studies
HIV can hide in the body's tissues even when ART lowers the virus in the blood. This project focuses on the GI tract, a major site where latent HIV may reside, and uses humanized mouse models to study cellular reservoirs and viral reactivation. Findings could inform new approaches to preventing rebound and advancing long-term cures for people living with HIV. The research centers on understanding host physiology and metabolic processes that influence HIV latency in gut tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to strategies that reduce HIV latency in the gut and lower the risk of rebound after stopping ART.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest the GI tract harbors latent HIV and may respond differently to latency mechanisms, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wahl, Angela Raquel — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wahl, Angela Raquel
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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.