Visualizing how HIV-1 capsid moves through the cell’s doorway (nuclear pore)
Official title: Visualization of nuclear pore passage of the HIV-1 capsid
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11470277 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how the HIV-1 capsid travels through the cell’s nuclear pore to reach the nucleus, which could reveal new ways to block infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $553,136 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI194916-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470277 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HIV/AIDS or individuals at risk could benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
This basic science work may not directly benefit patients during the study period itself.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a detailed picture of how the HIV-1 capsid passes through the nuclear pore complex inside human cells. Researchers will generate nanobodies that trap the capsid and then analyze their structure to understand the movement and possible changes during transport. By visualizing this process, the study hopes to identify new targets for antiviral therapies and improve our understanding of HIV biology from entry to integration. The work will involve advanced imaging and structural biology methods at MIT to capture the capsid’s journey in real time. If successful, the findings could inform the design of treatments that disrupt a crucial early step of HIV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of a key step in HIV infection could lead to novel antiviral strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests capsid interaction with the nuclear pore is a viable target; this project builds on emerging evidence and uses innovative trapping methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, Thomas — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, Thomas
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.