Host immune control of HIV-1: how certain hosts and viral mutations limit replication
Official title: Host Restriction of Immune Escape HIV-1 Mutants
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11510029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how a specific immune response in some people with HIV can naturally keep the virus in check without daily medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | May 7, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $613,261 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI200599-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11510029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment in this grant as described (basic mechanistic virology study).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or immediate clinical benefit is described in this basic science grant.
What this research studies
This grant looks at how a clever interaction between a person's immune system and HIV-1 reduces viral replication, focusing on the CTL response to the capsid protein and a key viral mutation. The project aims to uncover the molecular steps that cause the virus to struggle with replication and how certain host factors influence this process. By understanding these mechanisms, scientists hope to inform future strategies for durable control of HIV-1. The work builds on prior findings about R264K, CypA, CPSF6, and compensatory changes that restore replication. The long-term goal is to reveal targets for therapies that could mimic elite controllers’ control of the virus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide new approaches to achieve durable HIV control without continuous therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings show that host- and virus-factor interactions can influence HIV replication, suggesting this approach has a track record of informative results.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balasubramaniam, Muthukumar — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Balasubramaniam, Muthukumar
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.