Understanding how HIV persists in the body despite treatment
Official title: Multiomic strategies to assess HIV reservoir persistence
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11063274 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how some HIV cells can stick around in the body even when people are taking their medication, and it aims to find out what makes these cells tough so that we can come up with better ways to get rid of them for those living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $844,008 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176597-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063274 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are currently receiving antiretroviral therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not living with HIV or those who are not on antiretroviral therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that allow the HIV reservoir to remain in the body of people living with HIV, even when they are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). By using a novel single-cell approach, the study aims to identify HIV-positive cells and understand their characteristics that contribute to their resistance to cell death. This could help in developing better strategies to reduce or eliminate the HIV reservoir. The research focuses on the cellular and molecular aspects of HIV persistence, which have not been fully explored in previous studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that effectively reduce or eliminate the HIV reservoir, potentially paving the way for a cure.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on HIV reservoirs, this approach using single-cell profiling is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Betts, Michael R — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Betts, Michael R
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.