Sorting and Sequencing Latent HIV Reservoirs in Opioid-Using People
Official title: Sorting and Sequencing Latent Reservoirs in HIV+ Opioid Users
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11391367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether HIV-infected cells in people who use opioids have unique molecular signatures that could reveal how the virus hides and persists.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,550,268 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059551-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV who use opioids (e.g., morphine or heroin) and are enrolled in Last Gift tissue studies or similar cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or opioid exposure, or those not contributing tissue samples, may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project uses a cutting-edge method called FIND-Seq to identify HIV+ cells in tissues like spleen, gut, and brain from participants who use morphine or heroin. It aims to link transcriptional and proteomic patterns to the persistence of latent HIV, and to test how morphine might alter these reservoirs. By studying cells from Last Gift participants, researchers hope to uncover mechanisms that keep HIV hidden and identify targets to disrupt latency. The work combines genomics, proteomics, and functional tests to advance our understanding of HIV latency in a high-risk population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform new strategies to target latent HIV reservoirs in opioid-using individuals, potentially bringing closer more effective cure approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data using FIND-Seq has identified HIV DNA+ cells and differential gene expression related to latency, supporting potential progress in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ott, Melanie Maria — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Ott, Melanie Maria
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.