Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $414,984 Project Grant to the University of Pennsylvania on May 6, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The grant supports research designed to advance understanding of patient and provider perspectives on hepatitis B virus (HBV) curative therapies and clinical trial approaches, with particular focus on people living with HIV/HBV coinfection. The project addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding optimal implementation strategies for HBV treatment discontinuation protocols, which are necessary to evaluate novel curative and finite-duration HBV therapies. Research will examine preferences and concerns among both patients and healthcare providers regarding treatment discontinuation duration, management approaches, and acceptance in the context of HIV/HBV coinfection, where heightened risks of rebound hepatitis and ongoing antiretroviral treatment requirements create unique clinical challenges.

The two-year project, with completion targeted for April 30, 2028, will be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania's Philadelphia location. This funding supports translational research that bridges emerging HBV cure science—a designated scientific priority for the National Institutes of Health, industry, and academic institutions with over 50 clinical trials in development—with essential stakeholder input needed to inform clinical trial design and implementation. The research addresses a significant gap compared to established HIV cure research, where more than a decade of patient and provider engagement has informed research priorities and trial protocols.