Improving antibody responses to HIV envelope vaccines
Optimizing Humoral Responses to HIV-1 Env Vaccine Antigens
This project tests vaccine designs and immune strategies to help people make stronger, broader antibodies that can fight HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294158 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are working to understand how the strength of B cell receptors shapes whether immune cells become long-lived memory cells or short-lived antibody factories after repeated immunizations or chronic infection. They use engineered HIV envelope vaccine proteins and trace specific B cell lineages in genetically modified mice and in rhesus macaques to see which conditions encourage broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). The team combines single-cell gene analysis and B cell lineage tracing to map which antibody affinities lead to desirable outcomes. The goal is to learn vaccine designs and schedules that increase the chances of generating bNAbs that could protect people from diverse HIV strains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related trials would be people at risk for HIV exposure or volunteers interested in participating in HIV vaccine studies.
Not a fit: People with health concerns unrelated to HIV or those seeking immediate treatment for an active HIV infection are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide vaccines that prompt the body to make broadly neutralizing antibodies, helping to prevent HIV infection.
How similar studies have performed: Related vaccine and immunology studies have shown promising immune responses in animals and early human work, but reliably producing broadly neutralizing antibodies in people remains a major challenge.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelsoe, Garnett H — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kelsoe, Garnett H
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.