Understanding how infants develop antibodies against HIV

Determinants of HIV broadly-neutralizing antibody precursor induction in infants

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11059119

This study is exploring how babies can create strong defenses against HIV better than adults, and it aims to find out what helps them do this so we can improve vaccines for preventing HIV in infants.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11059119 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how infants can produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV more effectively than adults. It focuses on identifying the early factors that influence the induction of these antibodies, particularly looking at the role of adjuvants and the host microbiota. By using advanced techniques to analyze biological data, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that enable infants to develop these antibodies sooner and with fewer mutations. The findings could lead to improved vaccine strategies for preventing HIV in infants.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children who are at risk of HIV infection or have been diagnosed with HIV.

Not a fit: Patients who are adults or those who do not have HIV or are not at risk for HIV may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective HIV vaccines for infants, potentially reducing the incidence of HIV in this vulnerable population.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in understanding antibody development in infants, but this specific approach focusing on bNAb precursor induction is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.