HOPE: a new approach to silencing HIV and preventing rebound
Official title: HOPE - HIV Obstruction by Programmed Epigenetics
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11515087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant is testing a combination strategy to turn off HIV genes in people on treatment so the virus stays gone and health improves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $4,870,431 |
| NIH project number | 4UM1AI164559-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who are on ART and may be candidates for future translational or early clinical approaches to achieve durable viral control.
✕Less likely to help
People not yet eligible for early translational steps or those unable to participate in future clinical development activities may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The HOPE Collaboratory plans to use a mix of already approved drugs, targeted molecules, and gene-level strategies to lock HIV in a silenced state and prevent rebound after stopping ART. The project will study how these approaches reduce viral activity, inflammation, and metabolic issues, while exploring how to move promising candidates toward early clinical use. Researchers will examine pharmacokinetics, tissue reach, and safety in non-human primate models before considering human trials. The goal is to create a durable, possibly curative ART that minimizes the need for ongoing medication for people living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people with HIV could experience longer periods of viral control and better overall health with less dependence on daily ART.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts in HIV silencing and latency reversal have provided foundational insights, with ongoing work moving toward clinical readiness.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ott, Melanie Maria — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Ott, Melanie Maria
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.