Outside-the-Box AIDS Vaccine

The aim of this supplement is to stimulate the discovery, design and preclinical evaluation of highly innovative, risky but rational approaches that could provide long term protection from acquiring HIV infection. Recent setbacks in the vaccine, microbicide and other biomedical prevention fields have increased interest for new, alternative and untested "outside-the-box" approaches, highlighting the need for a shift in paradigms to discover and develop new prevention strategies. Applicants are expected to explore novel hypotheses or address difficult problems, the solutions to which could have a significant impact on finding methods to interrupt HIV transmission. The research proposed is expected to focus on verifying a hypothesis or solving a problem for the field.

  • Term: 1 year (when available)
  • Number of awards: Dependent on available funding
  • Award amount: $100,000 direct costs

2 Awards

Award Recipient Award date Award Type
Exploring the Tolerogenic Fetal Immune Response to in utero Exposure to HIV and/or Malaria Trevor Burt, MD Fall Outside-the-Box AIDS Vaccine
APOBEC3+ Retrovirus Particles as B-Cell Immunogens Warner Greene, MD, PhD Fall Outside-the-Box AIDS Vaccine
Contacts

  • Exploring the Tolerogenic Fetal Immune Response to in utero Exposure to HIV and/or Malaria

    Exploring the Tolerogenic Fetal Immune Response to in utero Exposure to HIV and/or Malaria

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    Abstract

    The developing human immune system is distinct from that of the adult immune system. In particular, it is endowed with a relatively large compartment of regulatory T cells (TReg). These fetal-type TReg have a unique gene-expression pattern, and may normally serve to suppress immune responses against self and/or against unshared maternal antigens. Each of these functions could be construed as beneficial. If, in this setting, maternal to child transmission of HIV or malaria were to occur, it is not clear whether enhanced TReg activity would be beneficial or detrimental.

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