An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
July 1st, 2010
RFA-AI-10-009, HIV Cure, and “Berlin Patient” Update
Interesting “RFA” (Request for Application, #RFA-AI-10-009) from Bethesda:
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourage grant applications from institutions/organizations to address the problem of HIV-1 persistence in HIV-1-infected persons treated with suppressive antiretroviral drug regimens… The goal of this initiative is to expand the knowledge base on HIV-1 latency and persistence so that eradication strategies can be designed, developed and evaluated.
In other words, research directed at a cure. If there’s any doubt about what the ultimate goal of the grant is, the title of the RFA is “Martin Delaney Collaboratory: Towards an HIV-1 Cure (U19)”, named in honor of the influential patient advocate who died last year.
I’ve written before about the “Berlin Patient” (here and here, for example) who, after receiving a bone marrow transplant from a donor homozygous for the delta-32 CCR5 mutation, was able to stop all antivirals without experiencing virologic rebound. The latest on him from the “cure” perspective is that even Bob Siliciano’s lab can’t find virus in the guy:
As of today, [the Berlin patient] remains healthy, and his HIV levels are undetectable … Even samples sent to Siliciano’s lab and other U.S. facilities that have the most sensitive assays have come up empty. Says Siliciano: “I think he’s cured.”
From single case report — one that began with an obscure research poster at the 2008 Retrovirus conference — to a complete cure of HIV, this case must be showing us the way to eradicate the virus.
And if you’d asked me ten years ago which I thought we’d see first, a truly effective HIV vaccine or a legitimate pathway to an HIV cure, I’d definitely had said the vaccine.
Now I’m not so sure …
3 Responses to “RFA-AI-10-009, HIV Cure, and “Berlin Patient” Update”
Paul E. Sax, MD
Contributing Editor
NEJM Journal Watch
Infectious Diseases
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i am interested in an update from the germany group who developed the Tre enzyme to remove HIV from the genome of infected cells. i found out they are doing experiments on humanized mice now with very promising results.
linda
ITS HARD TO KEEP INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE BERLIN GUY AND A CURE DEVELOPING FOR HIS SURGERY. IF ANYONE COULD POST A LINK TO KEEP US IN HTE LOOP THAT WOULS BE GREAT
Being a sufferer myself, i would offer that the educated, responsible, affluent sector of the positive community must unite in creating a dedicated cure research fund pool. We owe it to mankind to take control of our own destiny. It is indeed clear that funding is the only obstacle in moving in the right direction. Inadequate funding equates to inadequate research and the infection rate continues to climb. Just wish some Nobel recipient or equivalent could unite us in this effort