What controls HIV hiding and reactivation in infected cells
Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms shaping HIV proviral fate
Researchers are mapping how HIV stays hidden in cells and what wakes it up by studying viral and host control of gene transcription.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242087 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses genetic tools, genome-wide measurements, CRISPR methods, and high-resolution microscopy to map how HIV remains dormant and how it restarts. Work will be done in lab-grown cell models of latency and in primary cells, plus samples taken from people on suppressive ART. The team focuses on the cycle of RNA polymerase II and how viral enhancers and the viral protein Tat drive initial activation versus sustained transcription. Results are intended to reveal points where future treatments could either flush out or permanently silence the viral reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are on stable antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral loads and willing to provide blood or tissue samples would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those not on suppressive ART would not be eligible and are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets or strategies to eliminate or permanently silence hidden HIV, advancing cure efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Prior basic-science studies have identified host and viral factors affecting HIV latency but have not yet produced a cure, so this builds on established methods while applying higher-resolution approaches.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: D'orso, Ivan — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: D'orso, Ivan
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.