Understanding why HIV hides in some cells
Multiomic strategies to assess HIV reservoir persistence
Using advanced single-cell tests on blood and tissue from people with HIV on treatment, researchers hope to find which infected cells resist death so future cures can target them.
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 ID | NIH-11310726 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at cells from people with HIV who are taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy and uses a new single-cell method (V‑ASAPseq) that reads viral DNA, epigenetic markers, and cell surface proteins at the same time. By directly identifying rare infected cells and their chromatin and surface features, the team aims to discover how some infected cells avoid death. Researchers will collect blood and possibly tissue samples from participants and perform ATAC-based epigenetic profiling together with viral alignments and protein tagging. Results are intended to point to cell-specific mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce the HIV reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are on long-term suppressive ART and willing to provide blood and possibly tissue samples are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or individuals not on suppressive ART are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal specific cell features that drugs or immune therapies can target to reduce or eliminate the HIV reservoir.
How similar studies have performed: Other single-cell and proviral-mapping studies have provided important insights, but combining epigenetic, protein, and viral readouts in this way is novel and not yet proven to deliver a cure.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- 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 below.