Grant Award Details

Immunotherapy for HIV infection using engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells
Grant Number: 
DISC2-09123
Project Objective: 
  • Immunotherapy for HIV infection using engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

Investigator: 
Disease Focus: 
HIV/AIDS
Infectious Disease
Human Stem Cell Use: 
Adult Stem Cell
Cell Line Generation: 
Adult Stem Cell
Award Value: 
$1,569,193
Status: 
Closed

Progress Reports

Reporting Period: 
NCE Year 3

Grant Application Details

Application Title: 
  • Immunotherapy for HIV infection using engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells
Public Abstract: 

Research Objective

The therapeutic candidate proposed here is hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells engineered to encode for HIV-specific T cell receptors.

Impact

The success of the proposed studies will test the efficacy of an approach to provide long-lasting functional cure for HIV infection, obviating the need for anti-retroviral therapy.

Major Proposed Activities

  • Test if engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can engraft in humanized mice and differentiate into engineered HIV-specific cytotoxic T cells.
  • Test if cytotoxic T cells differentiating from engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells are functionally active in vitro.
  • Test if engineered hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can suppress HIV infection in engrafted mice.
Statement of Benefit to California: 

HIV affects >200,000 individuals in the State of California. The current anti-HIV treatment needs to be taken constantly for the patient’s life time, is expensive, and has negative side effects. The proposed research can address these issues by using engineered hematopoietic stem cells to treat HIV infection. Success of this approach will lead to clinical trials that will be initiated in California and will lead to therapies that will benefit millions of HIV patients in California and worldwide.