# Core J: Virology and Molecular Biomarkers Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $782,351

## Abstract

Project Summary: Virology and Molecular Biomarkers Core (Core J)
 The Virology and Molecular Biomarkers Core of the Emory CFAR provides state-of-the-art viral
quantification and characterization services in support of the extensive basic, clinical, and translational HIV/SIV
research being conducted at Emory University. Core J has been extremely successful in its provision of these
services because 1) it limits costs to researchers through an economy of scale, 2) it is effective at responding
to the constantly evolving needs of HIV/SIV researchers, and 3) it serves as a resource for training and
consultation in molecular virologic assays. This proposal provides a detailed blueprint for the Core's future
service provision as well as for a Tier-2 funded expansion of services and expertise that will support the
growing number of investigators focused on HIV cure research.
 Core J will be divided into three main laboratories. The Translational Virology (TV) laboratory develops and
implements quantitative viral assays that support research using nonhuman primate models of AIDS
pathogenesis, prevention, and therapy. Additionally, the Core's expertise in molecular viral diagnostics has led
to the validation and implementation of several new assays in response to the needs of AIDS researchers at
Yerkes, including notably, cell-associated HIV and SIV DNA assays with single copy sensitivity and viral
amplicon deep sequencing. The primary focus of the Core Clinical Virology (CV) laboratory is to provide
virologic and molecular diagnostic assays for clinical studies of HIV infection, STIs, and co-infections in a
CLIA/CAP-certified environment, as well as microbiome sequencing. These highly utilized functions will be
maintained in the next project period.
 During the next funding period, the Core will expand its scope and menu of services in order to meet the
demands of HIV/SIV/AIDS researchers that require new tools to study the establishment, maintenance, and
eradication of the persistent reservoir of latently infected cells during antiretroviral therapy. It will establish a
third Core laboratory, the Viral Reservoir (VR) Laboratory, with the purpose of validating and implementing
quantitative, cell culture-based assays of replication competent virus in HIV- and SIV-infected CD4+ T cells. In
addition, Core J will expand its menu of tests utilizing its recently acquired Illumina MiSeq deep sequencing
platform to provide virus and more detailed microbiome sequencing services in support of initiatives to
characterize virus integration sites, viral evolution in response to new therapies, and the relationship between
the genital/gut microbiomes and HIV transmission/pathogenesis.
 The new activities proposed herein will significantly impact the outcomes of a large number of new and
ongoing research programs at Emory University by providing the state-of-the-art virological services that are
crucial for characterizing the latent viral reservoir and evaluating novel ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9989041
- **Project number:** 5P30AI050409-22
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Guido Silvestri
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $782,351
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-09-30 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9989041

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9989041, Core J: Virology and Molecular Biomarkers Core (5P30AI050409-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9989041. Licensed CC0.

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