How persistent HIV hides in children and teens
Project-003
This project looks at how age-related immune, bacterial, and metabolic factors help HIV hide in children and adolescents living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312689 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect blood and other samples from children and adolescents living with HIV to measure immune signals, bacterial-related metabolites, and markers of new T cells leaving the thymus. They will measure the size and stability of the HIV reservoir and compare molecular and microbial profiles across different ages. The team will look at anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β and specific metabolites that might change how T cells behave and how viral latency is maintained. Findings will be used to point toward cure approaches designed specifically for the pediatric immune environment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents living with HIV, including infants and teenagers who can provide blood (and possibly stool) samples and medical history, are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Adults outside the pediatric age range are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this pediatric-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide cure strategies that are tailored to how HIV persists in children, improving the chance of long-term remission for young people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies in adults have linked metabolite and microbial patterns to HIV persistence, but translating those findings to children is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Ashish Arunkumar — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Ashish Arunkumar
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.