Reprogramming B cells to make powerful HIV antibodies
Official title: In vivo engineering of B cells for the secretion of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11456825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This approach tries to reprogram people's B cells so they continuously make potent antibodies that block HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | December 3, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $145,896 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI167003-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456825 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who might enroll in future gene-therapy trials—particularly those stable on treatment and willing to try an experimental immune-cell intervention—would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those not eligible for gene-therapy trials, or individuals with strong immune reactions to viral vectors or gene-editing components may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are using precise gene-editing tools (CRISPR-Cas9) and AAV delivery to insert genes for broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies into a person's own B cells. The edited B cells would act like living factories, maturing and producing high levels of HIV-blocking antibodies after exposure to HIV vaccine proteins. In mice, this combination of in vivo editing plus HIV Env immunization has produced strong, long-lasting antibody responses. The team aims to develop the method into a treatment that could provide durable control of HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow a small number of modified B cells to provide long-lasting antibody protection and reduce or eliminate the need for daily HIV medications.
How similar studies have gone: Infusing broadly neutralizing antibodies or using AAV to express antibodies has shown promise in humans and animals, but directly editing B cells inside the body is a newer approach still mainly tested in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Voss, James Even — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Voss, James Even
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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.