Understanding how HIV evolves to escape the immune system
Official title: Defining HIV evolution at the innate immune interface
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10948374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how HIV can quickly change to avoid being attacked by the immune system, focusing on a part of the virus called the capsid, and it aims to find ways to create better treatments that keep the virus from escaping our defenses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $474,620 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2AI184621-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10948374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are experiencing challenges with current antiviral therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those who have already achieved viral suppression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how HIV can rapidly change and evade the body's immune defenses, particularly focusing on the viral capsid, which is a key target for immune response. By using advanced techniques to introduce mutations in the HIV virus, the researchers aim to identify which changes allow the virus to escape from the immune system and which are detrimental to its survival. This comprehensive analysis will help in designing new therapies that can effectively target the virus while preventing it from developing resistance. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to more effective treatments for HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of innovative therapies that better control HIV and reduce its ability to mutate and evade treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding viral evolution and immune interactions, but this specific approach using high throughput mutagenesis is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tenthorey, Jeannette — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Tenthorey, Jeannette
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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.