Federal Grant Award Summary

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. received a $267,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028. This grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research focused on developing integrase-targeted therapeutic compounds as potential HIV-1 cure strategies. The research examines whether integrase-targeting compounds can elicit pyroptotic cell death in HIV-infected cells, building on established "shock and kill" approaches that enhance viral gene expression to eliminate infected cells from the body.

The funded research addresses HIV-1 latency and persistent infection by exploring the molecular mechanisms through which integrase domain engagement might prematurely activate viral protease to trigger host cell death pathways. This work contributes to the broader HIV cure research field by investigating novel small molecule modulators that could complement existing antiretroviral therapy limitations, potentially advancing therapeutic options beyond current treatment approaches that suppress but do not eliminate the viral reservoir.