Understanding how HIV uses the nuclear pore to affect its infection and activation in immune cells
Official title: Defining Nuclear Pore Complex Subsets and Import Pathways that Regulate the Fate of HIV-1 Integration and Gene Expression
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11411588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how HIV-1 interacts with the cell’s nuclear gateway to change how it enters the nucleus and how its genes are expressed, with the goal of informing future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $617,374 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI200600-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with HIV or immune cells derived from patients that can be studied in related laboratory research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without HIV may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will map which parts of the nuclear pore complex HIV-1 uses to access the nucleus, study how different entry routes affect whether HIV integrates and remains active or goes latent, and examine how these routes shape the surrounding genetic landscape in CD4+ T cells and macrophages. They will use innovative methods to block or deplete nucleoporins and to redirect HIV through different nuclear import paths to observe changes in infection outcomes. The work aims to connect NPC remodeling to productive versus latent infection, which could guide strategies to limit HIV persistence. The study is conducted in human immune cells, aiming to translate cellular insights into potential therapies for HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of HIV nuclear entry could lead to new approaches that limit viral integration or promote a non-active state, potentially reducing viral persistence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that nuclear entry pathways influence HIV fate, but this project aims to map NPC subsets and remodeling in detail, representing an advancement of current knowledge.
Where this research is happening
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Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dharan, Adarsh — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Dharan, Adarsh
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.