Role of the HIV-1 Capsid in Viral DNA Integration
Official title: Role of the Viral Capsid in HIV-1 Integration
Funded at Meharry Medical College · NIH-11426199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant is exploring how the HIV-1 capsid protein helps HIV insert its DNA into human cells, with the aim of guiding the development of better antiviral drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Meharry Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $761,966 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI136740-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11426199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people living with HIV who could benefit from improved, CA-targeted therapies or future trials testing new CA inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not yet exposed to CA-targeted strategies or those not eligible for future drug development trials may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the HIV-1 capsid protein controls the step where viral DNA becomes a permanent part of the host cell’s genome. Researchers at Meharry Medical College will study the mechanisms that link capsid function to integration, building on prior findings about how CA inhibitors block infection. The work uses biochemical and cellular assays to map how the preintegration complex operates and how drugs like lenacapavir affect it. By clarifying these mechanisms, the project seeks to identify new targets for frontline therapies that could be effective across diverse HIV-1 infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to improved antiviral therapies that more effectively prevent HIV from integrating into human DNA.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that capsid inhibitors can block integration, and this project builds on that foundation with deeper mechanistic insight.
Where this research is happening
-
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dash, Chandravanu — Meharry Medical College
- Study coordinator: Dash, Chandravanu
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.