Understanding why HIV hides in immune cells and how to make it disappear faster
Official title: Identifying vulnerabilities in the long-lived HIV reservoir to accelerate its decay
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11493678 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why the HIV reservoir in certain immune cells is so slow to decay and how early treatment might unlock faster clearance for people living with HIV on therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $207,483 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI176531-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11493678 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with HIV who started ART either very early after infection or after a delay of several months, from the MERLIN cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not translate to those who never initiate ART or who have atypical treatment histories.
What this research studies
This project will use blood samples from people with HIV who started antiretroviral therapy early after infection and those who started later, to compare how quickly the hidden HIV reservoir decays. Scientists will look at cellular and viral features that influence whether reservoir cells persist or are cleared during long-term therapy. By examining early- and late-treated groups, the study aims to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to hasten reservoir decay in all people living with HIV on ART. The work will involve analyzing cryopreserved samples to characterize differences in reservoir cell biology and viral behavior over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform new strategies to reduce the HIV reservoir and move closer to durable remission or cure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that early ART is associated with faster reservoir decay, but the precise mechanisms remain to be defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duerr, Ann C — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Duerr, Ann C
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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.