Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program

The intent of the Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) program is to attract both international and U.S.-based early stage investigators from outside the field of HIV research to help address key scientific questions in HIV research, including emerging issues of long-term survival with HIV infection, prevention of HIV transmission and research towards a cure.

  • Term: Up to 2 years
  • Up to $150,000 direct cost per year, (the amount of the award will vary depending on the proposal)

11 Awards

Award Recipient Award date Award Type
Development of a diagnostic T cell assay to confirm disruption of latent HIV-1 infection Nilu Goonetilleke, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
A Super-agonistic antibody to human IL-21 to boost immunity for HIV cure Di Yu, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Targeting Tim-3 for elimination of HIV reservoirs Lishomwa Ndhlovu, MD, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Sampling and Analysis of Thoracic Duct Lymphocytes in HIV+ Patients Matthew Callaghan, MD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Gut Barrier Dysfunction and Dysbiosis on HIV Persistence and Immune Activation Ma Somsouk, MD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Targeting Antiapoptotic Signaling for Eradication of HIV Latent Reservoir Haishan Li, MD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Defining and Eliminating the Macrophage Reservoir Jonah Sacha, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Impact of Integration Site Selection on HIV Persistence Rik Gijsbers, MD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Impact of CMV replication on the HIV-1 latent reservoir Sara Gianella Weibel, MD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Bridges Within the HIV-human Hosthogen Genome JJ Miranda, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Targeting NK cell activity to eradicate the HIV-1 reservoir Eileen Scully, MD, PhD Fall Creative and Novel Ideas in HIV Research (CNIHR) Program
Contacts

  • A Super-agonistic antibody to human IL-21 to boost immunity for HIV cure

    A Super-agonistic antibody to human IL-21 to boost immunity for HIV cure

    Abstract

    We have identified a super-agonist monoclonal antibody (mAb) to human IL-21 (hIL-21) by screening homemade libraries. The mAb (clone 2P2) enhances the hIL-21 bioactivity at a level ~10 fold in vitro. The anti-hIL-21 super-agonist mAb represents a novel class of immunostimulating therapeutics to boost IL-21-mediated immune enhancement to eliminate activated latently infected cells for HIV cure. We hypothesize: 1. The super-agonist mAb 2P2 boosts hIL-21 bioactivity to enhance the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells and NK cells to eliminate activated latently infected CD4+ T cells. 2.

  • Targeting Antiapoptotic Signaling for Eradication of HIV Latent Reservoir

    Targeting Antiapoptotic Signaling for Eradication of HIV Latent Reservoir

    Abstract

    Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection creates a long-lived latent reservoir that is maintained during antiretroviral therapy (ART). With a half-life of approximately ~44 months, these latently-infected CD4 T cells threaten recrudescence even after prolonged treatment and are a major impediment to the eradication of virus reservoirs. Our long-term goals are to discover the mechanisms responsible for conveying the very long half-life of latent CD4 T cells and develop strategies to shorten the half-life to allow their elimination during a relevant time interval.

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