What makes hidden HIV reservoirs shrink or grow
Determinants of reservoir contraction and expansion in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro
Researchers are looking for the biological drivers that make hidden HIV reservoirs shrink or grow in people living with HIV who are taking antiviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at HIV reservoirs—the hidden virus that survives despite antiviral therapy—using samples from people, cells taken from patients, and lab models. The team will deliberately perturb factors that might cause reservoir cells to expand or contract and then measure what changes. They will combine those experiments with machine learning to find patterns and key drivers behind reservoir size. The overall aim is to identify targets or approaches that could help shrink the reservoir.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV who are on stable antiretroviral therapy and willing to provide blood samples and participate in study visits.
Not a fit: People not on suppressive antiviral therapy, children, or those with unrelated serious medical conditions may not be eligible or may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to reduce the hidden HIV reservoir and move toward treatments that allow long-term remission or cure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have measured and sometimes partially reduced HIV reservoirs, but a reliable method to eliminate them has not yet been proven, and combining experimental perturbations with machine learning is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'doherty, Una T — Emory University
- Study coordinator: O'doherty, Una T
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.