By Holly Alyssa MacCormick A single infusion of a modified CAR-T cell therapy could pave the way for a potential one-shot cure for HIV, according to preliminary findings of a small, early-stage clinical trial. Steven G. Deeks, MD, the principal investigator of this California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)-funded clinical trial, discussed the findings at a recent CIRM board meeting. Steven Deeks, MD Photo: UCSF Roughly 40 million people worldwide and more … Continue reading Early trial shows promise for one‑shot cure for HIV
HIV/AIDS
Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
Photo Courtesy: City of Hope The scientific community lost a true pioneer with the passing of John A. Zaia, MD. Dr. Zaia was a visionary virologist, gene therapy trailblazer, and esteemed leader at City of Hope. He dedicated over four decades to advancing regenerative medicine. He left behind a profound impact on HIV research, pediatric … Continue reading Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
CIRM Joins World AIDS Day Campaign, Commits $104 Million for HIV Research
John A. Zaia, MD, of Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope This year marks the 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day, a global event that aims to end human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related stigma, honor people lost to the disease, and reaffirm the commitment to ensuring HIV is no longer a public health threat. … Continue reading CIRM Joins World AIDS Day Campaign, Commits $104 Million for HIV Research
Investing in stem cell and gene therapy treatments for HIV
A recent article in Nature shared the news about a 53-year-old man in Germany who was declared free of HIV after receiving virus-resistant cells. The man—referred to as the “Düsseldorf patient”—was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and underwent a stem cell transplant in 2013 that replaced his bone marrow cells with HIV-resistant stem cells from … Continue reading Investing in stem cell and gene therapy treatments for HIV
Pioneering a new approach to HIV and AIDS
Dr. Steven Deeks. Photo courtesy UCSF I’ve always been impressed by people's willingness to step forward and volunteer for a clinical trial. Even more so when they are the first person ever to test a first-in-human therapy. They really are pioneers in helping advance a whole new approach to treating disease. That’s certainly the case … Continue reading Pioneering a new approach to HIV and AIDS
Funding a Clinical Trial for a Functional Cure for HIV
Antiretroviral drugs have turned HIV/AIDS from a fatal disease into one that can often be controlled, but they are not a cure. That’s why the CIRM Board approved $6.85 million for a therapy designed to cure the disease. This is CIRM’s 82nd funded clinical trial. Millions impacted About 38 million people worldwide live with HIV/AIDS, … Continue reading Funding a Clinical Trial for a Functional Cure for HIV
Man with HIV in remission after blood stem cell transplant
News that a stem cell transplant at City of Hope helped a man with HIV achieve long‑term remission made headlines worldwide—and rightly so. It’s a major achievement, especially because the 66‑year‑old patient had lived with HIV since 1988. What wasn’t highlighted is that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine supported the work that made this … Continue reading Man with HIV in remission after blood stem cell transplant
UC Davis Health researchers aim to use CAR T-cells for HIV cure
Dr. Abedi (right) in the lab at UC Davis Health. He and his team of researchers have launched a study looking to identify a potential cure for HIV. Photo Courtesy of UC Davis Health. Worldwide, almost 38 million people are living with HIV—the virus that can lead to AIDS— and it’s estimated that 75% of … Continue reading UC Davis Health researchers aim to use CAR T-cells for HIV cure
Remembering a stem cell pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Timothy Ray Brown. Photo courtesy Seattle Times Timothy Ray Brown, a man who was the first person to be cured of HIV, giving hope to millions of people around the world, died at his home in Palm Springs this week. He was just 54 years old. For years Brown was known simply as “the Berlin … Continue reading Remembering a stem cell pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Charting a new course for stem cell research
What are the latest advances in stem cell research targeting cancer? Can stem cells help people battling COVID-19 or even help develop a vaccine to stop the virus? What are researchers and the scientific community doing to help address the unmet medical needs of underserved communities? Those are just a few of the topics being … Continue reading Charting a new course for stem cell research