# Enhancing regeneration of stem cell-derived HIV-specific immune effectors

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2022 · $552,734

## Abstract

Project Summary
In the previous U19 award, we developed a non-genotoxic antibody based method of
conditioning animal recipients for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) transplantation.
This approach is now being developed for human use and non-human primate testing by
Magenta Therapeutics, the commercial participant in this proposal. We also developed a
method of enhancing T cell neogenesis post-transplantation that takes advantage of prior work
defining the bone marrow niche for T-competent progenitors, creating an easy to administer, off
the shelf bone marrow cryogel. Subcutaneous injection of the cryogel leads to improved T
competent common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) production, increased thymocytes, TREC+ cells,
mature T cells, expanded TCR repertoire and improved immune function in mouse models.
Here, we will combine it with the gene modification technology of the Cannon and Kiem labs
and the antibody-drug conjugate technology of Magenta to determine whether we can increase
the regeneration of a functionally complex, HIV protected adaptive immune system to protect
against acute HIV infection, control viremia in infected hosts and potentially, reduce the tissue
reservoir of infected cells. The strengths of the Scadden lab in hematopoiesis and transplant
and the Allen lab in HIV infection and immunity will complement each other in testing this
approach in humanized mice. We will closely interact with the Cannnon and Kiem labs on gene
modifying approaches to engineer anti-HIV HSPC and extend testing to the non-human primate.
Collectively, these efforts will provide immediate pre-clinical testing a of a strategy to cure HIV
through low-toxicity approaches to rebuild an infected individual’s immune system.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10409803
- **Project number:** 5U19HL156247-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** David T Scadden
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $552,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10409803

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10409803, Enhancing regeneration of stem cell-derived HIV-specific immune effectors (5U19HL156247-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10409803. Licensed CC0.

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