Faculty in the Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing (CNVGE) lead state-of-the-art research using gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, to develop treatment strategies for virus-induced CNS disorders. 

The Comprehensive NeuroHIV Center (CNHC) 

The Comprehensive NeuroHIV Center (CNHC), established in 2011 by Temple University and Drexel University, provides services, training and research materials to HIV researchers in the greater Philadelphia research community. This highly collaborative center brings together researchers from across several disciplines and includes investigators from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple’s College of Public Health, and Drexel University. 

The CNHC has six core areas — four scientific, one administrative and one developmental. The scientific cores are: 

• The Viral Gene Editing and Bioinformatics Core — Provides researchers with knowledge and familiarity with the latest technology involving gene editing to investigate the neuroscience of HIV. This core provides CRISPR gene editing design.  
• The Cell Biology and Functional Analysis Core — Mentors and trains researchers and supplies materials such as highly purified brain cells and cultured human peripheral blood cells for molecular and virological studies.  
• The Clinical and Translational Research Support Core — Maintains a well-characterized group of patient participants to give HIV researchers data, biological samples and laboratory reagents. 
• The NeuroHIV Community Partnership Core — Conducts community needs assessments, supports culturally competent research practices and helps share research findings with communities of interest.  

CRISPR for Cure: A Martin Delaney Collaboratory 

The CRISPR for Cure program, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) through the Martin Delaney Collaboratories, uses CRISPR-based gene editing to pursue a cure for HIV. The goal is to enhance immune responses and remove HIV proviruses from the genome. The project brings together 15 investigators from five academic institutions and two industry partners, including a small biotech company, along with community collaborators. 

It includes three research foci (RFs): 

• RF1: Uses next-generation sequencing and specially marked (barcoded) viruses to identify HIV reservoirs and understand how epigenetic changes influence viral rebound. 
• RF2: Enhances the function of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to destroy infected cells and limit viral spread using genome editing. 
• RF3: Develops next-generation inducible CRISPR systems with high precision, delivered via CD4-tropic AAV9 vectors, to eliminate HIV proviral DNA in living systems. This is being tested in animal models that use immune cells modified in RF2. 

Expanding Viral Research Beyond HIV  

In addition to HIV-related research, CNVGE faculty are also exploring gene editing approaches for other virus-induced diseases.  

One project explores gene editing approaches to fight the BK virus, a human polyomavirus that typically remains silent in the body but can reactivate and harm the kidneys of renal transplant patients on immunosuppressive medication. This project involves collaboration with surgeons from Temple’s Department of Surgery. 

Other CNVGE research focuses on JC virus (JCV), another human polyomavirus, and its role in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and virus-associated brain tumors. 

Researchers are also investigating how substance use may affect the development and progression of HIV-related neurological disorders.