Off-the-shelf CAR T cells to achieve long-term control of HIV
Development of Allogeneic CAR T Cell Therapy for a Functional Cure of HIV Infection
This project will develop donor-derived CAR T cells for people living with HIV to control or eliminate the virus so they may not need daily antiretroviral drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285452 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating donor-derived (allogeneic) CAR T cells that are engineered to find and kill HIV-infected cells so patients would not have to rely on their own T cells. The approach builds on CAR T successes in blood cancers and on animal and humanized-mouse studies using dual CD4-based CAR designs with added costimulatory signals. Making an off-the-shelf product aims to avoid slow, costly manufacturing from each patient and to provide a more consistent therapy. This grant supports laboratory and preclinical work to advance safe, effective manufacturing and to enable future clinical testing in people with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with chronic HIV, particularly those stable on antiretroviral therapy and in generally good health, would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those with active uncontrolled opportunistic infections, or individuals with severely compromised immune systems would likely not benefit from this therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give durable control of HIV without lifelong antiretroviral therapy, functioning as a practical cure for many patients.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T therapies have been highly successful for some blood cancers and show encouraging results in animal and humanized-mouse HIV models, but effectiveness in people with HIV is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutwell, Christian L. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Boutwell, Christian L.
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.