Translational virology
Cure, Hiv, Resistance
Research aim
By integrating insights from clinical and fundamental research on drug resistance, viral persistence, and evolution, we aim to improve antiviral treatment and viral eradication strategies globally
About us
Our international Translational Virology team including virologists, biomedical researchers, and clinicians, collaborates with immunologists, pharmacologists, social scientists, patient organizations and other key-stakeholders to advance antiviral and curative treatments while strengthening global capacity building.
We focus on HIV’s ability to evade drug pressure and the mechanisms it employs to persist as a viral reservoir in human cells. We co-lead the successful international IciStem program, aiming to cure HIV through stem cell transplantation. To date, two participants have been cured and a third has achieved long-term remission. To better understand HIV persistence, we lead the SPIRAL program, developing an HIV reservoir atlas across global subtypes using blood and tissue samples. Additionally, we create model-systems to test innovative immune- and CRISPR-Cas-based therapies in diverse HIV reservoirs. This work is essential for closing knowledge gaps regarding HIV-1 subtypes and informing equitable cure strategies.
While our ultimate goal is to develop curative interventions, we prioritize optimizing current treatments. Despite potent high genetic barrier antiretroviral regimens, viral rebound is observed, especially when socio-economic challenges affect adherence. Through our ITREMA collaboration, we investigate innovative, cost-effective strategies for early detection of resistant variants. We also study mechanisms of viral escape across different HIV-1 subtypes