Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Meharry Medical College received a $613,261 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded May 7, 2026, with completion scheduled for April 30, 2027. The grant supports biomedical research investigating the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 immune escape and viral control. Specifically, the research examines how HIV-1 elite controllers—individuals who naturally maintain suppressed viral loads without antiretroviral therapy—establish and maintain immunological control through CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses targeting the HIV-1 capsid protein. The research will elucidate the mechanistic basis of CTL escape mutations and their dependencies on host factors, particularly cyclophilin A (CypA) and cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit 6 (CPSF6), to understand how compensatory viral mutations restore replication capacity and enable immune escape.

The project deliverables include scientific findings and methodological advances that advance understanding of HIV-1 pathogenesis and immune evasion mechanisms. This research generates knowledge intended to inform the development of more effective therapeutic and preventative strategies for HIV/AIDS, contributing to the program's broader objective of supporting investigator-initiated biomedical research that establishes, expands, and improves research addressing infectious diseases and immunologic disorders. The research is being conducted at Meharry Medical College's facilities in Nashville, Tennessee.