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Finding a pathway to HIV cure among adolescents on long-standing ART in Botswana through reservoir analysis, analytic treatment interruption, and biomarker assessment

Award Number: K43TW012848
ORGANIZATION: FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Abstract Adolescents living with HIV-1, many of whom began antiretroviral treatment (ART) in early life, are an ideal group to benefit from novel HIV-1 treatment approaches and curative strategies. However, a better understanding of HIV-1 persistence into adolescence following continuous ART in childhood is critical for the development of effective cure strategies. In this K43 application, I propose to develop and get trained on laboratory techniques and next generation sequencing techniques to advance an HIV-1 cure research program in Botswana with specific aims to 1) first identify adolescents with low reservoir without detectable intact virus (Type I controllers) or those with a blocked and locked reservoir profile (with detectable intact proviruses with non-genic chromosomal integration (Type II controllers) from a cohort of adolescents who were perinatally infected with HIV-1 and having been on ART since the first 2 years of life. 2) Evaluate how the reservoir changes over time in the same adolescent cohort living with HIV-1C while for those with ‘blocked and locked’ reservoir profile, if they agree, I will enroll them into the Tatelo Plus ATI study (U01AI179561) to test the hypothesis that those with a ‘blocked and locked’ reservoir profile (Type II) may be post-treatment controllers and evaluate how their reservoir evolves pre and post ATI; and 3) identify biomarkers associated with the potential for Type I or Type II control. I am originally from Botswana and I hold a PhD in Immunology and Virology, Master’s degree in Immunology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Microbiology. I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health and the Ragon Institute in 2022 and have now returned to my home country Botswana, where I am in the process of setting up an adolescent HIV-1 cure research program and planning to become an independent investigator at the Botswana Harvard Health Partnership. This proposal will most importantly support my mentored career development and assist me advance the HIV cure research in Botswana.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $113,400 )
2024	2024	BOTSWANA HARVARD AIDS INSTITUTE	PRINCESS MARINA HOSPITAL PLOT 1836 NORTH RING R	BOTSWANA				BWA	International Research and Research Training	000	1	8/5/2024	NEW	$113,400
														Subtotal = $113,400

Grand Total All Awards = $113,400

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Finding a pathway to HIV cure among adolescents on long-standing ART in Botswana through reservoir analysis, analytic treatment interruption, and biomarker assessment

Award Number: K43TW012848

ORGANIZATION: FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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