HIV vaccine using multiple early virus envelope proteins
Designing HIV-1 envelope immunogens to maximize neutralization breadth through use of multiple founder envelope antigens
This project develops a vaccine approach that mixes several early forms of HIV’s outer protein to help people at risk make broadly protective antibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103290 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know researchers are making a cocktail of five stabilized HIV envelope proteins taken from the very earliest virus variants seen in one infected person. They lock each protein into a closed shape and combine them with immune-boosting ingredients to teach B cells to make broadly neutralizing antibodies. The team will test how well this cocktail prompts the desired antibody responses in the lab and in animal models before any human trials. The work builds on observations that people infected with multiple founder viruses sometimes develop broader antibody responses over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for HIV infection would be the likely candidates for future vaccine trials based on this approach.
Not a fit: People already living with chronic HIV are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this vaccine design work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to an HIV vaccine that protects against many different HIV strains by prompting broadly neutralizing antibodies.
How similar studies have performed: Related vaccine strategies are still experimental—some animal studies show promise, but to date no vaccine has reliably produced broadly neutralizing antibodies in people.
Where this research is happening
Bethesda, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med — Bethesda, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasan, Sandhya — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Vasan, Sandhya
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.