Reversing Immune Dysfunction for HIV-1 Eradication
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11515084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team is testing how to restore the immune system in people with HIV to help clear the virus from the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $4,958,401 |
| NIH project number | 4UM1AI164561-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV who could contribute samples or participate in future translational or clinical studies related to immune restoration and viral clearance.
✕Less likely to help
People not eligible for future immune-therapy trials or who do not have HIV reservoirs may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings basic and clinical scientists together to understand why HIV persists and how the immune system can be strengthened to attack the virus. Researchers will explore how the microbiome and metabolites influence immune responses and HIV reservoirs, with collaboration from Merck to share resources. The work includes preclinical in vivo studies to test immune-restorative strategies combined with methods to reactivate and eliminate the virus. The aim is to develop a therapeutic approach that improves immune function and reduces viral persistence, potentially moving toward eradication concepts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to immune-based therapies that help control or reduce HIV reservoirs and move closer to a functional cure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous HIV cure efforts show that boosting immune function can influence viral control, but definitive eradication remains unproven, making this approach novel and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chanda, Sumit K — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Chanda, Sumit K
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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.