We are pleased to announce that Leah Brandt, PhD, has been awarded funding in the amount of $199,998 for a two-year grant by Merck & Company, Inc., entitled, “Evaluation of the Stability of the Intact HIV-1 Reservoir and Low-Level HIV-1 Viremia in People with HIV-1 Suppressed on Antiretroviral Therapy.” This proposal was submitted in response to the competitive funding opportunity entitled, “Merck Investigator Studies Program.”

Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively inhibits HIV-1 replication in persons with HIV-1 and suppresses plasma viremia below the limit of detection of commercial FDA-approved assays, residual low-level viremia <40 copies/mL (LLV) can still be detected by more sensitive, single-copy assays in 80% of people with HIV-1 on suppressive ART. Detectable LLV can contribute to immune activation, inflammation, and the risk of viral rebound if ART is interrupted. Understanding the stability of LLV, identifying the factors that influence it, and determining its source(s) in the latent reservoir is essential for managing long-term HIV-1 and tailoring interventions that target the reservoir. Assessing changes in this LLV could be a simple and efficient way to screen for early evidence of activity of experimental interventions.

Dr. Brandt’s research will 1) assess the intra-individual stability of low-level viremia, intact and total HIV-1 DNA, and cell-associated HIV-1 RNA in people with HIV-1 on effective ART, and 2) determine the influence of sex, age, and menopausal status on the longitudinal detectability of low-level viremia and characteristics of the latent and expressed HIV-1 reservoir.

Dr. Brandt’s research will provide critical insights into the stability of low-level viremia (LLV) and potential sex-based influences. Understanding the stability of LLV is critical to determining its value as a biomarker of response to interventions designed to clear virus-producing cells and achieve HIV-1 remission without continuous antiretroviral therapy.

Please join us in congratulating Leah!