Teaching the immune system to make broad HIV-fighting antibodies
Bioinformatics and Statistics
This project develops vaccine approaches to teach immune cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies that could protect people against many different HIV strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294154 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you follow this work, it aims to prime rare B cells and guide them to evolve into cells that make broadly neutralizing antibodies using specially designed HIV envelope proteins. The team uses rhesus macaque (monkey) SHIV infection models and prior vaccinations to speed up antibody development and test which approaches work reproducibly across animals. Researchers apply bioinformatics and statistical tools to track antibody gene changes and to design immunogens that target the right B-cell precursors. Results would inform future human vaccine trials aimed at preventing HIV infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future human trials would likely enroll people at risk of HIV infection or volunteers interested in preventive vaccines.
Not a fit: People already living with established HIV infection are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to vaccines that prevent HIV by triggering antibodies effective against many global strains.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown broadly neutralizing antibodies can develop in natural HIV infection and that some vaccine designs can activate precursor B cells in animals and humans, but reliably inducing protective bNAbs across many people has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagh, Kshitij — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Wagh, Kshitij
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 below.