Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a major reduction in HIV-related mortality and morbidity but treatment is required life long. The most significant barrier to cure is the establishment of a latent or “silent” infection in resting CD4+ T cells. In latently infected T-cells, the virus is able to integrate into the genome, but does not proceed to active replication. These cells are long lived and also proliferate. Activation of latently infected resting CD4+ T cells can then re-establish infection once ART is stopped. The major goal of research currently is to find a way to put HIV into remission – to keep the virus under control at low levels in the absence of ART.

Reducing persistent virus and enhancing immunity are two major strategies aimed at cure. We are using novel molecular tools to understand how and where the virus integrates and why some integration sites are selected for persistence on ART. In addition, we are exploring the role of latency reversing agents and immune checkpoint blockers in in vitro, ex vivo and animal models and also evaluating these agents in small scale clinical trials.

Sharon Lewin is the inaugural director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital; Professor of Medicine, The University of Melbourne; consultant infectious diseases physician, Alfred Hospital and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellow. She is an infectious diseases physician and basic scientist.  

Her research focuses on understanding why HIV persists on treatment and developing clinical trials aimed at ultimately finding a cure for HIV infection. She is passionate about research translation, science communication and the role of community in research and health.

Professor Wang Linfa
Programme Director
Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases

Ms Shirley William
shirleywilliam@duke-nus.edu.sg