# Pathogenesis of Clade C HIV Infection

> **NIH NIH R37** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $621,120

## Abstract

Despite dramatic advances in HIV-1 prevention modalities and increased global access to effective
combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), new HIV-1 infections continue to occur at an alarming rate.
Thus despite the promise of cART, an effective vaccine against HIV-1 is clearly needed to end the
epidemic (Fauci et al., 2014). Despite the ability of broadly neutralizing antibodies to be induced in
natural infection (Scheid et al., 2011; Walker et al., 2011 b; Walker et al., 2009), it is still unclear how to
induce these, and there is a growing consensus that an effective vaccine will require induction of
neutralizing antibodies, CD4 T cell responses, and CDS T cell responses (Fauci and Marston, 2014;
Walker et al., 2011 a). A precise understanding of the antiviral properties of adaptive T cell responses is
thus critical, but is only beginning to be understood. Key to understanding these antiviral properties is
detailed examination of the function and evolutionary fate of these responses from the time of
transmission, as well as an understanding of how pre-infection immune status impacts the ability of
adaptive T cell immune responses to control viremia. During the past funding period of this R37 we
have established a unique cohort of persons in whom we have pre-infection samples as well as
samples from onset of viremia through to viral set point, which is now allowing us to define viral and
host immunologic dynamics prior to and during the peak of viremia. We will continue to pursue the
specific aims as outlined in the original submission, building on the substantial progress we have made
during the first three years of funding.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928851
- **Project number:** 5R37AI067073-15
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce D Walker
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $621,120
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-06-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928851

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928851, Pathogenesis of Clade C HIV Infection (5R37AI067073-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928851. Licensed CC0.

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