Targeting a specific process to help eliminate dormant HIV-1 in patients
Official title: Modulation of ADP-Ribosylation as a Target During HIV-1 Latency and Reactivation
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10838937 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific chemical change in proteins might help wake up hidden HIV-1 cells so that the immune system can find and get rid of them, which could lead to better treatments and possibly a cure for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $73,828 |
| NIH project number | 1F32AI176916-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10838937 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV-1 who have not achieved viral suppression or are experiencing challenges with current treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV-1 or those who have achieved long-term viral suppression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of ADP-ribosylation, a chemical modification of proteins, in the context of HIV-1 latency and reactivation. The approach aims to understand how this modification affects the ability of the immune system to recognize and eliminate dormant HIV-1 cells. By exploring new latency reversing agents (LRAs) that target ADP-ribosylation, the research seeks to improve the effectiveness of treatments that aim to eradicate HIV-1 from the body. Patients may benefit from advancements in therapies that could potentially lead to a cure for HIV-1.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that effectively eliminate dormant HIV-1 reservoirs, potentially curing patients of the virus.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting ADP-ribosylation in the context of HIV-1 is novel, previous research has shown promise in using other latency reversing agents to activate dormant HIV-1.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moen, Jack Michael — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Moen, Jack Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat
-
Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
-
Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures
This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.
-
Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure
This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.
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.