# REACH: Research Enterprise to Advance a Cure for HIV

> **NIH NIH UM1** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $5,683,679

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite the success of standard antiretroviral therapy (ART), the need for an HIV cure remains compelling, both
to improve the lives of PWH and to bring about the end of the pandemic. Strategies for an HIV cure fall under
two categories: those that seek ART-free ‘remission’, and those targeting a classical cure or ‘eradication’. While
precedents exist for both scenarios, the latter have only been achieved with bone marrow transplantation. In
contrast, although naturally occurring immune-mediated control of HIV (remission) is relatively rare, many such
cases have been described. Our proposed “Martin Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research” program is
entitled “REACH” - Research Enterprise to Advance a Cure for HIV. The central theme of REACH is that cellular
immune responses (NK and T-cells), combined with next generation virus-neutralizing biologics, can be
harnessed to achieve durable remission and eradication of HIV reservoirs. The proposed research focuses on
closing gaps in our understanding of the fundamentals of the system that we are trying to perturb, i.e.: the HIV
reservoir in relation to cellular immunity, as the means to achieve real progress towards effective and viable HIV
cure strategies. Our approach centers around three research foci, which emphasize back to basics science, but
connect this with discovery to translational pipelines directed towards both remission and eradication. The
proposed objectives, broadly defined, aim to: (1) redefine the three-way relationship between the persistent HIV
reservoir, CD8+ T-cells, and rebound virus at the levels of: single cells, individuals, and diverse populations, (2)
harness conventional and unconventional (bNAb-induced) CD8+ T-cells responses, in combination with bNAbs
and ‘next generation’ biologics, to achieve durable control of HIV replication, and (3) develop a discovery-to-
translation pipeline to overcome multiple barriers to the eradication of HIV reservoirs by CTL/NK cells. These
studies will be rooted in a strong basic science program that will contextualize results with novel insights into
barriers to immune-mediated reservoir elimination, including the role of the proviral integration site and of viral and
host factors influencing immune susceptibility. Our program prioritizes the study of diverse populations, including
African populations infected with non-B subtype virus, and women – both to advance towards a cure for all, and
to benefit from diverse perspectives as a source of fundamental insights. These objectives will be realized by a
group of accomplished investigators of diverse expertise and with strong collaborative histories, along with
community and industry partners.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10313563
- **Project number:** 1UM1AI164565-01
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Marina Caskey
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $5,683,679
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-16 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10313563

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10313563, REACH: Research Enterprise to Advance a Cure for HIV (1UM1AI164565-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10313563. Licensed CC0.

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