Dr. Edward Browne, a member of the CFAR’s Advanced Technology Laboratory Core, associate professor of medicine, and leader of the Browne Lab within the UNC HIV CURE Center, has recently secured two significant NIH grant awards to explore innovative approaches to combat the latent HIV reservoir. These awards will fund critical research that may bring us closer to a functional cure for HIV.
Dr. Browne’s groundbreaking research focuses on developing novel strategies to target and eliminate these hidden HIV reservoirs, a major step toward ending the global HIV epidemic.
Grant 1: Targeting the HIV Reservoir in the Brain Using CRISPR-Delivered Nanoparticles
The first of Dr. Browne’s awarded grants, funded by the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), seeks to tackle the HIV reservoir within the central nervous system (CNS). HIV’s viral protein Tat plays a pivotal role in activating HIV gene expression. When Tat is secreted by infected microglia (brain-resident immune cells), it can contribute to central nervous system (CNS) toxicity and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), which affects many individuals living with HIV. Dr. Browne’s team aims to develop lipid nanoparticles that can deliver CRISPR-based technology to inactivate the Tat gene in vivo. This innovative approach could permanently silence viral gene expression in the brain, potentially halting both viral reactivation and the harmful effects of HAND. Currently, no antiviral drugs targeting Tat or viral transcription are available for clinical use, making this research a crucial step forward in developing a novel strategy to eliminate the HIV reservoir.
Grant 2: Investigating the Impact of Cannabinoids on HIV Latency
The second NIH grant, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), will investigate the effects of cannabinoids (CB) on the HIV reservoir in humanized mouse models. Cannabis use is prevalent among people living with HIV (PWH), but its effects on HIV infection, immune responses, and the latent viral reservoir remain poorly understood.
Dr. Browne’s team will use humanized mice—mice that have been engrafted with human immune systems—to explore how cannabinoid exposure impacts the size of the HIV reservoir, viral latency reversal, and the molecular characteristics of infected cells. This research will focus on both the CNS and peripheral organs, such as the spleen, in ART-suppressed humanized mice. The findings could provide new insights into how cannabis affects HIV persistence and informs future therapeutic strategies.
A Collaborative Effort in HIV Cure Research
Dr. Browne’s work, supported by these two NIH grants, builds upon decades of research into HIV pathogenesis and potential cure strategies. As a key member of the Advanced Technology Laboratory Core at the UNC HIV CURE Center, Dr. Browne’s lab is at the forefront of using cutting-edge technologies to study and target the latent HIV reservoir. By combining innovative CRISPR-based strategies with novel insights into how external factors like cannabinoids affect HIV persistence, Dr. Browne’s team is paving the way toward more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for HIV.
The research funded by these grants is an exciting advancement in the field of HIV cure research and underscores the importance of continuing to explore novel therapies to address the challenges of the latent HIV reservoir. With these latest NIH awards, Dr. Browne and his lab are poised to make significant contributions to the global effort to eradicate HIV.