Virginia Commonwealth University · NeuroscienceThe HIV Eradication Lab
Wenhui Hu · Richmond, Virginia
Research Focus
Wenhui Hu's lab at Virginia Commonwealth University focuses on developing innovative gene therapies to eliminate the HIV virus from infected cells, with a particular emphasis on brain and immune cells. They utilize advanced techniques in genome editing, specifically CRISPR/Cas systems, to create targeted delivery mechanisms that effectively reach HIV reservoirs in the body. Through their research, they hope to contribute to finding a permanent cure for HIV and addressing associated cognitive disorders.
HIVCRISPRgene therapyneurocognitionmicroglialentivirus-like particlesgene deliveryendogenous retrovirusCas12T cell reservoir
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop a targeted gene delivery system using lentivirus-like particles for HIV cure.
AIM 02Optimize CRISPR/Cas12 delivery to CD4 T cells.
AIM 03Investigate endogenous retrovirus-like particles for gene therapy in the brain.
AIM 04Explore microglia-targeted strategies for HIV eradication.
AIM 05Evaluate therapeutic potential in humanized mouse models of HIV.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR gene editingmRNA delivery systemslentivirus productionmicroglial cell culturein vivo mouse modelsAAV technologymolecular cloningflow cytometryreporter gene assaysimmunostaining
Output against the department
Publications230top 32% of dept.213th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.0ktop 44% of dept.293rd of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.