tulane grant
Huanbin Xu, assistant professor of pathology, studies new ways to flush out and kill HIV from reservoirs. Photo: Tulane.

The Tulane National Primate Center received a $4.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study new ways to flush latent HIV from its hidden reservoirs and destroy it.

Specifically, the so-called “kick and kill” approach uses standard meds with a combination of therapies to activate HIV that’s hiding in reservoirs. Next, according to a Tulane press release, the virus will be attacked with an antibody drug conjugate that is a new class of highly potent biopharmaceutical drugs.

In addition, the researchers will also test a gene editing strategy that delivers therapy tailored to each individual’s immune system.

The research is led by Huanbin Xu, assistant professor of pathology at Tulane University, located in New Orleans.