How the HIV capsid can change and affect treatment
Evolutionary potential of HIV-1 capsid: mechanisms and consequences
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11087700
Researchers are mapping how the protein shell around HIV (the capsid) can change to resist drugs and interact with human cells to help guide better treatments for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11087700 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is creating many different versions of the HIV capsid and testing how each change affects the virus's behavior and response to drugs. They use large-scale, high-throughput genetic methods to build detailed profiles of which capsid mutations lead to resistance against capsid-targeting antivirals. The researchers will also test combinations of different capsid inhibitors to see if using them together can block resistance pathways. Finally, they study how capsid changes alter the virus's interactions with human cell factors that HIV needs to infect and replicate.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV, especially those with known drug-resistant virus or who are interested in future trials of new capsid-targeting therapies, would be most relevant to this line of research.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those whose care will not involve capsid-targeting drugs are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help develop capsid-targeting drugs that are harder for HIV to resist and improve long-term treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Capsid-targeting antivirals have shown promise in laboratory studies and early clinical work, but resistance patterns are incompletely understood, so this project builds on promising but still-developing findings.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YAMASHITA, MASAHIRO — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: YAMASHITA, MASAHIRO
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.