Investigating a new model for HIV infection using pigtail macaques
Official title: Pigtail Macaque Model of Human-Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-10683253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a new way to study HIV using pigtail macaques, which will help researchers learn more about how the virus works and test new vaccines and treatments that could be more effective for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $378,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI165289-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10683253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who have conditions unrelated to HIV/AIDS may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new animal model for studying HIV infection by using pigtail macaques infected with a modified version of the virus. The approach involves substituting certain genes from HIV with those from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) to allow the virus to replicate in macaque cells. By enhancing the infectivity of this modified virus through serial passaging, researchers aim to better understand HIV pathogenesis and evaluate potential vaccines and treatments. This model could provide insights that are more relevant to human HIV infection compared to existing models.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments and vaccines for HIV/AIDS.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success with similar approaches in developing animal models for HIV, but this specific method is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thippeshappa, Rajesh — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Thippeshappa, Rajesh
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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.