Where HIV hides, moves, and reactivates in the body
Leaving, Coming, and Staying HIV Obligate Microenvironments (HOME)
This project uses detailed tissue sampling and advanced single-cell and single-genome methods to learn how HIV hides and moves in the bodies of people living with HIV, including donations collected through rapid autopsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324896 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I take part, researchers will use pre-death clinical information and, for donors who consent, a rapid full-body autopsy performed within hours of death to collect tissues from many organs. They will apply single-cell and single-genome technologies to map where virus persists, which cells carry it, and which reservoirs are ready to reactivate. The team builds on the Last Gift cohort and combines viral, host, and environmental data to understand reservoir variability across the body. Findings are intended to point to specific tissue sites and cellular vulnerabilities that future cure approaches could target.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who can provide clinical information during life and are willing to consider tissue donation after death through a rapid autopsy program are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are unwilling or unable to consent to tissue donation or rapid autopsy, or who expect an immediate treatment benefit, are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify the specific tissues and cell types that keep HIV alive and the ones most likely to cause rebound, information that could guide targeted cure strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Related efforts like the Last Gift program have successfully used rapid autopsy to reveal tissue reservoirs, but combining whole-body sampling with single-cell and single-genome methods at this scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, David Mitchell — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Smith, David Mitchell
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.