Co-investigator: Jean-Pierre Routy (Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre)
HIV infection has been cured using bone marrow cell transplantation in a few individuals who received transplants from HIV resistant donors. Due to risks of cell transplant between individuals this procedure cannot be widely used. However, a similar procedure could be effective, in which a person’s own cells are modified to make them resistant to HIV. We have identified six anti-HIV RNA-based genes that have great potential to be effective in such a procedure. The development of these genes to safely and effectively generate HIV resistant cells represents one of the most promising avenues for developing a cure for HIV.