How HIV hides and comes back after treatment
Unraveling the Mechanisms of HIV Persistence and Rebound
['FUNDING_P01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11381202
Researchers are tracking where HIV hides during long-term therapy and how it resurfaces in people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11381202 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research uses a nonhuman primate model and advanced immunoPET-CT imaging to follow viral protein signals in tissues while animals are on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Teams collect tissue samples guided by imaging to study the early “eclipse phase” when virus spreads in tissues before it appears in the blood. They then stop therapy in the model to observe how and where virus rebounds and how immune responses and the tissue environment influence that rebound. The goal is to learn patterns that may inform human cure strategies and guide future clinical studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are on suppressive antiretroviral therapy, especially those who started treatment early, would be the population most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those with uncontrolled viremia are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal where HIV reservoirs persist and when they reactivate, helping to design better cure or remission approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous imaging and nonhuman primate studies have provided important insights into viral reservoirs but have not yet produced a reliable cure, so this work builds on but does not duplicate proven clinical cures.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HOPE, THOMAS — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HOPE, THOMAS
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus