Individualized HIV Cure Strategy using personalized antibodies and immune cells
Official title: Individualized HIV Curative Combination Strategy against Persistent HIV on ART
Funded at Wistar Institute · NIH-11365765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to tailor a combination immune therapy for people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy to help control or reduce the viral reservoir.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wistar Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,369,553 |
| NIH project number | 5UM1AI191272-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV on suppressive ART who have a measurable reservoir and are willing to participate in advanced immune-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those not eligible for immune-based therapy (e.g., certain health conditions or contraindications) may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers plan to customize an HIV cure approach for each person by boosting a patient’s own neutralizing antibodies, using mRNA-LNP technology, and pairing them with engineered immune cells and antibodies. The strategy integrates antibody responses, natural killer cells, and CAR T cells to target HIV that hides in the body. The work includes testing how different components work together to suppress viral rebound and prolong time off ART in a personalized way. If successful, this could move toward individualized therapies that complement existing HIV treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lead to personalized therapies that better control HIV and possibly reduce the need for continuous ART for some people.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest autologous antibodies can influence viral rebound, with a potential for combination immune strategies showing promise in similar HIV cure research.
Where this research is happening
-
Wistar Institute
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montaner, Luis J — Wistar Institute
- Study coordinator: Montaner, Luis J
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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.