Understanding how certain immune cells can help eliminate HIV reservoirs
Official title: Defining and then Maximizing the Footprint of CTL Selection on HIV Integration Site Landscapes to Optimize Cure Strategies
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11015854 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special immune cells called CD8+ T-cells can help get rid of HIV-infected cells in the body, focusing on people who naturally control the virus without treatment, to find new ways to help others with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 25, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $829,575 |
| NIH project number | 5R37AI181626-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015854 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV, particularly those who have not responded well to standard antiretroviral therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who have advanced AIDS may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how specific immune cells, known as CD8+ T-cells, can be utilized to target and eliminate persistent HIV-infected cells in the body. By studying individuals who naturally control HIV without treatment, the research aims to identify the mechanisms that allow these elite controllers to manage the virus effectively. The approach involves creating a mouse model that mimics human infection, allowing researchers to observe how these immune cells interact with HIV and potentially lead to new treatment strategies. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to a functional cure for HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for eradicating HIV from the body, offering hope for a functional cure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using immune cell strategies to control HIV, but this specific approach is novel and untested in the proposed model.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, R. Brad — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Jones, R. Brad
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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.