R01NS126090

Revealing the Role of Platelets in Promoting HIV Reservoir Seeding and Persistence in the CNS-Resident Myeloid Cells - Summary

Despite the development of potent anti-retroviral therapy (ART) that successfully suppresses virus replication in the majority of people living with HIV (PLWH), there is no treatment that can cure this infection entirely. The major obstacle in eradicating HIV is the persistence of various anatomical viral reservoirs (VRs), including the central nervous system (CNS), that have the capacity to produce infectious virus and systematically spread within a short period upon cessation of ART in all, with few exceptional cases. Therefore, developing novel interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating the VRs is one of the key priorities for HIV research.

In response to RFA-MH-20-701, our application proposes basic science and preclinical research in SIV-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) to model aspects of VR in the CNS-resident myeloid cells of PLWH, and to investigate the efficacy of the novel pharmacologic strategy to prevent establishment of HIV persistence in the CNS. Thus, based on the observations outlined in this application, we hypothesize that the disruption of PMC formation during the acute phase of infection will limit the seeding and maintenance of VR and, as a consequence, the extent of viral rebound in the CNS following analytical therapy interruption (ATI).

Three aims are proposed: (1) to investigate whether the systemic disruption of PMC formation during the acute phase of infection regulates viral persistence in the CNS; (2) to investigate whether the systemic disruption of PMC formation during the acute phase of infection regulates the kinetics and extent of viral rebound after ATI; and (3) to investigate whether the systemic disruption of PMC formation during the acute phase of infection regulates the neuroinflammation and synaptodendritic damages associated with long-term ART and ATI.

These aims will be achieved by (i) using a well-established model of SIV-infected RMs treated with suppressive ART, and (ii) performing in vivo AB-mediated disruption of PMC formation during the acute phase of untreated infection. Revealing the mechanisms through which platelets regulate the persistence of HIV in myeloid cells will provide a critical understanding of how these cellular interactions function in mammalian cells, and an insight into how a potential HIV cure can be achieved in PLWH.

George Washington University (The)

(1) TO SUPPORT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) INCLUDING: BASIC RESEARCH THAT EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THESE DISORDERS, RESEARCH ON THE NATURAL COURSE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, IMPROVED METHODS OF DISEASE PREVENTION, NEW METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, DRUG DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL DEVICES, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE. THE INSTITUTE IS THE LARGEST FUNDER OF BASIC NEUROSCIENCE IN THE US AND SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING NEUROGENESIS AND PROGENITOR CELL BIOLOGY, SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT AND PLASTICITY, AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH, SYNAPSE FORMATION, FUNCTION, AND PLASTICITY, LEARNING AND MEMORY, CHANNELS, TRANSPORTERS, AND PUMPS, CIRCUIT FORMATION AND MODULATION, BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, SENSORIMOTOR LEARNING, INTEGRATION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, AND SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES ON A NUMBER OF DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO): STROKE, TRAUMATIC INJURY TO THE BRAIN, SPINAL CORD AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, MOVEMENT DISORDERS, BRAIN TUMORS, CONVULSIVE DISORDERS, INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, IMMUNE DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, DISORDERS RELATED TO SLEEP, AND PAIN. PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE, ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES, THE DIVISION OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, THE DIVISION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, THE OFFICE OF TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE OF PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE NEUROSCIENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES. (2) TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. TO UTILIZE THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM, TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.853 - Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NNDS) [HHS - NIH]

Washington, District Of Columbia 200520011 United States

Single Zip Code

Role of Myeloid Cells in Persistence and Eradication of HIV-1 Reservoirs from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-MH-20-701)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 06/30/26 to 06/30/27 and the total obligations have increased 334% from $833,889 to $3,617,591.