Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center received a $220,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2028. The research project, titled "Dual Germline-Targeting Strategy to Elicit Diverse Anti-CD4-BS BNAbs Against HIV-1," develops immunization strategies to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNAbs) against HIV-1 by targeting the CD4-binding site epitope on the viral envelope glycoprotein. The work leverages germline-targeting immunogens (specifically 426C.MOD.CORE.C4B) in combination with prime-boost vaccination approaches using transgenic mouse models expressing human antibody genes to guide B-cell maturation toward broadly neutralizing forms.

The research deliverables include preclinical studies evaluating immunization strategies for two distinct classes of anti-CD4-BS BNabs (VRC01-class derived from VH1-2 heavy chain genes and VH1-46-derived antibodies), optimization of boost regimens with heterologous envelope-derived proteins, and characterization of B-cell lineage competition dynamics through adoptive transfer models. Findings from this basic immunology research are intended to inform rational vaccine design approaches for HIV-1 prevention and contribute to the broader NIH mission of advancing biomedical research on infectious diseases.