Project Grant R01AI181664

This federal Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), provides $598,764 to The Trustees of Princeton University to conduct research aimed at disrupting the formation of HBV cccDNA to combat chronic HBV infection, particularly in the context of HIV co-infection.

The key objectives are to: 1) determine whether genetic disruption of host factors involved in HBV cccDNA formation can abrogate HBV infection in vivo using mouse models, and 2) extend this analysis to blocking HBV chronicity in the context of HIV co-infection, leveraging a novel humanized mouse model co-engrafted with human hepatocytes and components of a human immune system. This research seeks to advance the understanding of HBV/HIV co-infections and develop potential therapeutic approaches to address the accelerated liver disease progression associated with these co-infections.

The award period is from August 20, 2024 to July 31, 2029. A sub-award of $XX,XXX was made to the University of Maryland, Baltimore to support the development and use of the humanized mouse model to study HBV cure during HIV co-infection.