Injectable mRNA therapy to clear hidden HIV in the body
Eliminating the latent reservoir by targeted in vivo delivery of HIV-specific CARs
An injectable mRNA treatment aims to teach the immune system to find and remove hidden HIV in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285200 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, researchers are creating an injectable mRNA vaccine-like therapy that delivers HIV-targeting CARs directly into the body so immune cells can hunt down latent virus. They will first fine-tune the lipid nanoparticle formulations in the lab and test promising candidates in humanized mice. The best approaches will then be studied in non-human primates to see if they can reach tissues where HIV hides and reduce the viral reservoir. This work is preclinical, so it is not yet a treatment option for people, but it is aimed at developing a safe, affordable, and effective approach that could move into human trials later.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: In future human trials, ideal candidates would likely be adults living with HIV who have stable viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy and are willing to try experimental cure-focused treatments.
Not a fit: People without HIV and those with uncontrolled viral replication or severe immune suppression would not be expected to benefit from this intervention as currently planned.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could shrink or eliminate the hidden HIV reservoir and move treatment closer to a true cure, potentially reducing or ending the need for lifelong antiviral pills.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches like CAR-based immunotherapies have shown strong results in some cancers, and mRNA lipid nanoparticle delivery has proven effective for vaccines, but using in vivo mRNA-delivered CARs to clear HIV is a novel and still largely unproven strategy.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riley, James L. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Riley, James L.
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.