Understanding how to eliminate HIV reservoirs in the body
Official title: Regulation of Cell Death in HIV Reservoirs
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11039827 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how HIV can hide in the body even when people are on treatment, and it hopes to find ways to make those hidden cells die off so that future treatments for HIV can work better for everyone living with the virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $575,980 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176558-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039827 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are currently on antiretroviral therapy and have developed latent HIV reservoirs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not living with HIV or those who have not responded to antiretroviral therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms that allow HIV reservoirs to persist in the body despite antiretroviral therapy. It aims to explore how certain cellular processes protect these reservoirs from cell death and how targeting these processes could enhance the effectiveness of treatments. By using latency reversal agents to reactivate the virus, the study seeks to trigger cell death in HIV-infected cells, potentially leading to a more effective eradication strategy. Patients living with HIV may benefit from insights gained through this research, which could inform future treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for eliminating HIV reservoirs, potentially resulting in a functional cure for HIV.
How similar studies have gone: While the shock-and-kill approach has been explored, this specific investigation into targeting pro-survival mechanisms in HIV reservoirs is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jin — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jin
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.