Investigating how HIV reservoirs form in CD4 T cells after starting treatment.
Official title: Understanding HIV reservoir formation by profiling transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in CD4 T cells following ART initiation
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10903879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how HIV hides in certain cells even when people are on treatment, and it aims to find out how this happens so we can develop better ways to help people with HIV, possibly leading to a cure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $155,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI174898-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10903879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are about to start antiretroviral therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who are already on long-term ART may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how HIV creates a reservoir of infected cells that persists even during treatment. By examining the changes in gene expression and chromatin structure in CD4 T cells after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind HIV latency. The researchers will utilize advanced techniques like ATAC sequencing to profile these changes, which could lead to new strategies for preventing the establishment of these reservoirs. This work is crucial for developing effective treatments that could potentially lead to an HIV cure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to breakthroughs in HIV treatment, potentially allowing for a cure by targeting the reservoirs of infected cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding HIV latency and reservoirs, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Browne, Edward P — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Browne, Edward P
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.