Modulating Galectin-9 to help reduce HIV persistence
Official title: Modulation of Galectin-9 to Target HIV Persistence
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11382104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring whether blocking Galectin-9 can help reduce hidden HIV reservoirs in people on therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $827,545 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI184421-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals living with HIV who are on ART and have suppressed plasma viral load but may harbor latent HIV reservoirs.
✕Less likely to help
People not living with HIV or not on ART are unlikely to benefit from this specific mechanism study.
What this research studies
People living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) rarely achieve complete viral eradication because latent HIV persists in their cells. This project focuses on Galectin-9, a protein that may influence HIV activity in the body, to see if inhibiting it could reduce the reservoir of virus kept hidden by immune cells. The study will combine laboratory experiments with models that mimic human HIV infection to test whether Galectin-9 inhibition can lower HIV DNA and RNA in tissues. If successful, this work could guide new approaches toward a functional cure or better control of HIV persistence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, it could contribute to strategies that reduce HIV reservoirs and move closer to durable viral control for people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown Gal-9 can reactivate latent HIV and is linked to HIV persistence, supporting further exploration of inhibition as a counter-strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pillai, Satish Kumar — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Pillai, Satish Kumar
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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.