# Virus & Reservoirs Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $372,592

## Abstract

Core D: Virus and Reservoirs Technology Core
ABSTRACT
The Penn CFAR Virus and Reservoirs Technology Core (Core D) aims to provide unparalleled molecular
virology and state-of-the-art reservoir characterization services to Penn CFAR investigators and the HIV
research community more broadly. This Advanced Technology Core is led by Drs. Katharine Bar, Director, and
Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen, Co-Director, supported by three Core Investigators, Drs. Beatrice Hahn, Fredric
Bushman and George Shaw, with unparalleled expertise in their respective areas that is broadly leveraged for
CFAR research community.
In the coming cycle, Core D will innovate to provide new approaches that drive priority research in HIV reservoir
persistence and cure interventions, non-human primate (NHP) studies, and vaccine immunogen design. For
reservoirs research, the Core will offer a comprehensive range of reservoir assays, including applied
integration site analyses and several approaches that are optimized for both human and NHP studies. In
parallel, the Core provides a range of consultative services to educate users on their options for assays and
their experimental use. The Core will also provide a bioinformatic support of single cell analyses and other
sequencing and reservoir assessment approaches. The Core will also spearhead a cross-CFAR effort to
generate a novel bank of well-characterized biospecimens from people living with HIV (PLWH), to fuel
reservoirs and single cell research. To further drive translational research, the Core will expand its NHP
reagents and experimental guidance, including designer and barcoded SHIV reagents. To drive vaccine
discovery, the Core will provide a panel of new approaches to characterize autologous antibodies. In addition,
we have an enhanced panel frequently used services to provide both innovative approaches and economy of
scale, including highly used services such as viral reagents and quantification assays, single genome
amplification (SGA), and deep sequencing approaches.
The Core services support translational research from the bench through pre-clinical NHP and early clinical trials,
with parallel human and NHP assays and protocols, and unique assay support for first-in-human clinical trials.
Throughout each of the Core components, Core D provides comprehensive training and mentoring to CFAR
member and junior investigators and demonstrates proactive leadership to energize research in HIV reservoirs,
cure, and vaccine immunogen design. Core services will also galvanize key research enterprises, including the
BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory, NIH- and Gates-supported consortia, and the Single Cell Reservoirs &
Immunology SWG.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10896653
- **Project number:** 2P30AI045008-26
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Katharine June Bar
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $372,592
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1999-07-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10896653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10896653, Virus & Reservoirs Core (2P30AI045008-26). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10896653. Licensed CC0.

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