Using killer T cells from elite controllers to shrink hidden HIV reservoirs
Defining and then Maximizing the Footprint of CTL Selection on HIV Integration Site Landscapes to Optimize Cure Strategies
['FUNDING_R37'] · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · NIH-11238958
This project tests whether CD8 'killer' T cells from people who naturally control HIV can help remove the long-lived HIV-infected cells that block a cure for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238958 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect immune cells from rare people who naturally control HIV (elite controllers) and from other people living with HIV. They will put human CD4+ memory T cells into special immunodeficient mice, infect those cells with HIV, and then add or withhold autologous CD8+ T cells to see how immune pressure changes where HIV hides in the genome. The team will map viral integration sites and track clonally expanded infected cells to find which infected cells resist immune clearance. Results will be used to point toward immune-based strategies that better target the persistent reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people living with HIV who can donate blood and immune cells, including rare elite controllers willing to provide CD8+ T cells.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those whose viral reservoir is already resistant to immune-based approaches may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal ways to direct the immune system to clear hidden HIV-infected cells and help move toward a cure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown elite controllers' reservoirs are enriched for hidden integrations and that CD8 pressure can reproduce some patterns in mouse models, but applying this to guide cure strategies is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JONES, R. BRAD — WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- Study coordinator: JONES, R. BRAD
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus