Investigating the characteristics of HIV reservoirs in patients with low-level viral presence

"Viral and latent HIV reservoir characteristics in HIV patients with persistent low-level viremia

NIH-funded research Noguchi Memorial Institute / Medical Res · NIH-10877014

This study is looking at people with HIV who have a low amount of the virus in their blood to see how it affects their treatment and the possibility of finding a cure, especially in Africa.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNoguchi Memorial Institute / Medical Res NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Legon, Ghana)
Project IDNIH-10877014 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the characteristics of HIV reservoirs in patients who have persistent low-level viremia, which is defined as having a viral load between 50 and 999 copies/ml. The study aims to explore how this low-level viremia may contribute to the diversity of the virus, the size of the viral reservoir, and the emergence of drug resistance mutations. By analyzing blood samples from participants, researchers will assess the implications of these factors on the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the potential for HIV cure efforts in Africa.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and have a persistent low-level viremia.

Not a fit: Patients who are not on antiretroviral therapy or have undetectable viral loads will likely not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing HIV treatment and potentially enhance efforts towards finding a cure.

How similar studies have performed: While the investigation of low-level viremia is a recognized area of interest, this specific approach to understanding its implications in the African context is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Legon, Ghana

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.