Removing the persistent hepatitis B DNA in people with both hepatitis B and HIV
Official title: Targeting hepatitis B virus cccDNA during HBV/HIV co-infection
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11173635 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Trying a viral gene-delivery method to remove the persistent hepatitis B DNA (cccDNA) in people living with both hepatitis B and HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,395,056 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AI181664-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173635 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people living with chronic hepatitis B who also have HIV, especially those with HIV suppressed on antiretroviral therapy but persistent HBV infection.
✕Less likely to help
People without active hepatitis B infection, those with resolved past infection without cccDNA, or individuals unable to receive gene-delivery treatments would likely not benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would be hearing about lab work aiming to stop the piece of hepatitis B virus DNA (called cccDNA) that keeps the infection alive. The team plans to use engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery to target the cellular machinery that makes cccDNA, based on recent discoveries about DNA lagging-strand enzymes. They will test this approach in laboratory models and preclinical systems to show proof-of-concept and explore how it behaves during HIV coinfection. If successful, the lab findings would support moving toward therapies that target the viral reservoir in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to therapies that remove the viral reservoir and potentially cure chronic hepatitis B in people with HBV/HIV coinfection.
How similar studies have gone: Related gene-delivery and cccDNA-targeting strategies have shown promise in laboratory and animal studies but remain early-stage and unproven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ploss, Alexander — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Ploss, Alexander
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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HBV safety with long-acting HIV therapy for people with HIV
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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.