Lab-grown thymus system to understand how HIV's impact on T cells
Artificial thymic organoid platform to study T cell development and HIV/SIV infection using SIV/macaque model of HIV/AIDS
This project uses a lab-made thymus platform together with a monkey model to learn how HIV/SIV harms blood stem cells and the production of CD4 T cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174446 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are building an artificial thymus (a thymic organoid) to grow T cells outside the body and trace how they come from bone marrow stem cells. They will combine this organoid system with the SIV/macaque model to mimic HIV infection and follow whether stem cells or early thymus cells get infected. The team aims to pinpoint when and how bone marrow stem cell dysfunction begins and whether infected thymic precursors help form viral reservoirs. Results will guide better ways to protect or restore the immune system in people living with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for related future participation would be adults living with HIV who are willing to donate blood or bone marrow samples or to be considered for follow-up translational studies.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those seeking immediate clinical treatments or cures should not expect direct benefits from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how HIV depletes and prevents regeneration of CD4 T cells and point to strategies to preserve stem cell function or eliminate hidden viral reservoirs.
How similar studies have performed: Thymic organoid systems are a recent advance that have enabled ex-vivo T cell generation, but applying them to study HSC dysfunction and viral reservoir formation in HIV/SIV is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rahman, Sheikh Abdul — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Rahman, Sheikh Abdul
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.