# Mentoring in patient-oriented research to finding a cure for HIV-1 infection

> **NIH NIH K24** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2024 · $192,097

## Abstract

Abstract
Dr. Lichterfeld is an infectious disease physician-scientist with a strong record of mentoring research fellows in
high-profile, patient-oriented research studies related to HIV-1 cure and eradication. He conducts a broad and
diverse research program of patient-oriented studies that include molecular and cellular immunologic studies
with patient-derived cells, translational human investigations and interventional clinical trials designed to explore
novel therapeutic approaches to reduce HIV-1 reservoirs. These research activities provide attractive and
exciting training opportunities for physicians and scientists interested and invested in developing strategies for a
functional or sterilizing cure for HIV-1 infection; in the past, several of his mentees and co-mentees have
progressed to receive R-level funding, and have been offered independent faculty positions at highly-selective
universities around the world. In the proposed K24 application, Dr. Lichterfeld will extend and expand his
successful mentoring activities in the context of three cutting-edge research areas: He will mentor trainees in the
conceptualization, design, implementation and conduct of interventional clinical trials designed to explore novel
therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 eradication (Specific Aim 1). These activities will initially focus on an already
ongoing, NIAID-funded clinical trial in which Dr. Lichterfeld serves as the PI, but will be expanded in the future
to translate novel ideas and concepts into exploratory, proof-of-concept clinical trials. These studies take
advantage of advanced clinical trial research infrastructure and a highly motivated HIV-1 patient population at
the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital, the two hospitals Dr. Lichterfeld
is affiliated with. In addition, Dr. Lichterfeld will train his mentees in innovative next-generation sequencing and
proteomics approaches involving single-genome, near full-length viral sequencing, combined with viral
integration site analysis, chromatin accessibility assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to profile
residual viral reservoirs in patient-derived cell samples at an unprecedented breadth (Specific Aim 2). This work
will be facilitated by unique technical resources and cross-disciplinary collaborations at the Ragon Institute and
the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where Dr. Lichterfeld holds Associate Member status. Finally, Dr.
Lichterfeld will offer a distinct training experience in pediatric HIV-1 infection, focusing on the development of
interventions that may enable a long-term, drug free remission of HIV-1 infection in neonates from Botswana
(Specific Aim 3). These collaborative investigations will be performed in the context of ongoing, NIAID-funded
clinical trials investigating effects of standard antiretroviral therapy and broadly-neutralizing antibodies on viral
reservoirs and antiviral immune responses in HIV-1-infected infants started on therap...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10877808
- **Project number:** 5K24AI155233-04
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Mathias Lichterfeld
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $192,097
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-13 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10877808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10877808, Mentoring in patient-oriented research to finding a cure for HIV-1 infection (5K24AI155233-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10877808. Licensed CC0.

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