The Program in HIV Eradication develops innovative multidisciplinary projects aimed at addressing basic science and translational questions regarding HIV-1 eradication and cure research.
Through monthly meetings, and in collaboration with the ALTC, the Program has been highly productive, including development of methods to identify the size and localization of cellular reservoirs responsible for long-term viral persistence on ART; studies to define and characterize immune mechanisms that reduce viral persistence despite ART that may facilitate a long-term drug-free HIV remission; small investigator-initiated animal and human interventional trials that aim at reducing HIV-1 persistence and eradicating HIV-1 infection; novel next-generation sequencing technologies for quantification and characterization of the viral reservoir; and support of cohort studies to assess HIV persistence (HEAL cohort) and post-treatment control (CHAMP cohort).
The Program works closely with the Program in HIV Vaccines, planning immunotherapeutic interventions with vaccines and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. A major goal is to recruit new investigators from the Harvard University community to engage in HIV cure research, and to foster new collaborations across disciplines and across Harvard-affiliated institutions. In addition to many manuscripts, success of the Program to date is evidenced by the awarding of numerous R21, R01, U01 and UM1 grants focused on HIV cure to HU CFAR investigators during the current funding cycle, including a Martin Delaney Collaboratory.
Rajesh Gandhi, MD (MGH) is a Co-Director of the Program in HIV Eradication. He is also the chair of the ACTG HIV-1 Reservoirs and Eradication (Cure) Transformative Science Group (TSG). Mathias Lichterfeld, MD, PhD (BWH and Ragon) serves as a Co-Director of the Program. Daniel Kuritzkes, MD also serves as a Co-Director of the Program in HIV Eradication, and is the immediate Past Chair of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and a Principal Investigator of the Harvard/Boston/Providence Clinical Trials Unit.