Understanding how donor T cells could cure HIV after stem cell transplant
Official title: Characterization of Allogeneic T Cells Mediating HIV Cure
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11603192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how immune cells from a donor might help cure HIV in people who have had a life-saving stem cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $378,031 |
| NIH project number | 3R37AI189285-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11603192 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who have HIV and have undergone or may undergo alloSCT with potential for allogeneic T cell–mediated effects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without anallogeneic transplant history or those not undergoing T cell–mediated interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study specific donor immune cells that may eliminate hidden HIV reservoirs after an allogeneic stem cell transplant. They will examine samples from cured patients and an animal model to map the T cell responses and their targets. The findings could point to new ways to achieve a functional cure by using the body's own immune system. The work builds on cases where HIV disappeared after transplantation to guide future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new immune-based strategies to reduce or eliminate HIV reservoirs in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior cases suggest allogeneic immune responses can influence HIV reservoirs, but precise T cell targets require clarification.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sacha, Jonah B. — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Sacha, Jonah B.
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.