# Non-Human Primate and Imaging Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $461,371

## Abstract

Summary - Core B: Non-human Primate and Imaging Core
A major barrier to HIV cure is the persistence of HIV-1 infected cells that constitute the viral reservoir. While
current antiretroviral combination therapies are able to inhibit viral replication to below detectable levels (50
copies) in the plasma of patient, ART cessation almost invariably leads to viral resurgence even in patients for
which ART was initiated early post infection. This has led to the formulation of Shock and Kill approaches to
activate and reduce the reservoirs using latency reversing agents under the umbrella of ART, though such
approach in the absence of immunotherapy has not had any clinical benefit thus far. However, these results
clearly indicate that long-term persistent HIV reservoirs are seeded rapidly post infection as confirmed it the
nonhuman primate model of HIV. In addition, data from several groups and ours strongly suggest that residual
viral replication is actually ongoing in various lymphoid tissues in spite of highly active ART, be it due to poor
drug penetration, conversion or sanctuaries with limited antiviral immune contribution. In this application, we
propose to quantify and map the early reservoir formation after vaginal infection and early ART intervention,
using a series of state of the art imaging techniques as well detailed cellular analyses of the reservoirs
obtained at various times of ART initiation. Next we propose to address the functional reservoir following
prolonged ART and ART interruption, monitoring residual viral replication in tissues, sites of early viral
rebound, the cellular origin of the active reservoir and immune interventions designed to bolster antiviral
responses leading to antiviral control.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10224631
- **Project number:** 5P01AI131346-05
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Francois J Villinger
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $461,371
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-05 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10224631

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10224631, Non-Human Primate and Imaging Core (5P01AI131346-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10224631. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*