Demi Sandel
@demisandel.bsky.social
5th year PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences @ UCSF in the Rutishauser and Spitzer labs | formerly Jacks lab @ MIT and Newman lab @ LA Tech | Studying CD8+ T cell responses in HIV and cancer
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Thoughtful coverage of our study from various outlets. 🧵
1/ The SF Chonicle: www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...
1/ The SF Chonicle: www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...
‘Is this my last pill ever?’ UCSF therapy offers patients a hint at a cure for HIV
Seven of 10 volunteers kept HIV at bay for months after stopping meds, a rare result scientists call a major step toward a functional cure.
www.sfchronicle.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Thoughtful coverage of our study from various outlets. 🧵
1/ The SF Chonicle: www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...
1/ The SF Chonicle: www.sfchronicle.com/health/artic...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
10/ This was a small, single-arm, proof-of-concept study. The findings need to be replicated in other studies, several of which are enrolling now. Deeper investigations into the nature of the responding CD8+ T cells and the role of the bNAbs in potentiating host immune responses are ongoing.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
10/ This was a small, single-arm, proof-of-concept study. The findings need to be replicated in other studies, several of which are enrolling now. Deeper investigations into the nature of the responding CD8+ T cells and the role of the bNAbs in potentiating host immune responses are ongoing.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
9/ We think this robust expansion of CD8+ T cells in response to HIV rebound is meaningful: rare individuals who spontaneously control HIV also have CD8+ T cells with high proliferative capacity, and robust CD8+ T cell proliferation is correlated with better outcomes after cancer immunotherapy.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
9/ We think this robust expansion of CD8+ T cells in response to HIV rebound is meaningful: rare individuals who spontaneously control HIV also have CD8+ T cells with high proliferative capacity, and robust CD8+ T cell proliferation is correlated with better outcomes after cancer immunotherapy.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
8/ Just as the immune system encountered the emerging virus, controllers more robustly expanded a sub-population of activated CD8+ T cells with a progenitor/stem-like phenotype (TCF-1+PD-1+) as well as sub-populations with a cytotoxic effector phenotype (T-bet+Granzyme B+).
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
8/ Just as the immune system encountered the emerging virus, controllers more robustly expanded a sub-population of activated CD8+ T cells with a progenitor/stem-like phenotype (TCF-1+PD-1+) as well as sub-populations with a cytotoxic effector phenotype (T-bet+Granzyme B+).
Reposted by Demi Sandel
7/ @demisandel.bsky.social (1st PhD student in my lab!) made the key observation: early in rebound, before viral loads diverged, participants who went on to control HIV to low levels had a larger expansion of activated, cycling CD8+ T cells in the blood compared to those who did not control rebound.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
7/ @demisandel.bsky.social (1st PhD student in my lab!) made the key observation: early in rebound, before viral loads diverged, participants who went on to control HIV to low levels had a larger expansion of activated, cycling CD8+ T cells in the blood compared to those who did not control rebound.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
6/ Measurements of the viral reservoir - HIV DNA and RNA levels in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells - were relatively low in these participants (likely related to having started ART early) and they were unaffected by the immunotherapies. So why did we observe better control of HIV off of ART?
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
6/ Measurements of the viral reservoir - HIV DNA and RNA levels in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells - were relatively low in these participants (likely related to having started ART early) and they were unaffected by the immunotherapies. So why did we observe better control of HIV off of ART?
Reposted by Demi Sandel
5/ Notably, six participants had unusual HIV rebound patterns. The slope of rebound (i.e., the rate of the viral load increase day-after-day) was quite slow and then they sustained low viral loads for several months. One participant did not rebound at all despite being off ART for over 18 months.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
5/ Notably, six participants had unusual HIV rebound patterns. The slope of rebound (i.e., the rate of the viral load increase day-after-day) was quite slow and then they sustained low viral loads for several months. One participant did not rebound at all despite being off ART for over 18 months.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
4/ After bNAbs waned and/or if the virus lost bNAb susceptibility (modeled by Amelia Deitchman), 3 participants rebounded as expected: they had a rapid increase in HIV levels in the blood to relatively high viral loads. They all re-started ART pretty quickly after the virus showed up in the blood.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
4/ After bNAbs waned and/or if the virus lost bNAb susceptibility (modeled by Amelia Deitchman), 3 participants rebounded as expected: they had a rapid increase in HIV levels in the blood to relatively high viral loads. They all re-started ART pretty quickly after the virus showed up in the blood.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
3/ The single-arm, proof-of-concept study was based on a regimen that showed promising results in non-human primate models. Most of the 10 participants had started ART within 6 months of acquiring HIV. With no immunotherapy, we expected 1-2 might experience partial control of HIV after stopping ART.
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
3/ The single-arm, proof-of-concept study was based on a regimen that showed promising results in non-human primate models. Most of the 10 participants had started ART within 6 months of acquiring HIV. With no immunotherapy, we expected 1-2 might experience partial control of HIV after stopping ART.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
2/ The regimen included:
During ART: therapeutic vaccination (to enhance HIV-specific T cell responses vs conserved elements of HIV), then 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) + an immune activator (TLR9a; to reduce the reservoir)
When stopping ART: bNAbs (to potentiate host immune responses)
During ART: therapeutic vaccination (to enhance HIV-specific T cell responses vs conserved elements of HIV), then 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) + an immune activator (TLR9a; to reduce the reservoir)
When stopping ART: bNAbs (to potentiate host immune responses)
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
2/ The regimen included:
During ART: therapeutic vaccination (to enhance HIV-specific T cell responses vs conserved elements of HIV), then 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) + an immune activator (TLR9a; to reduce the reservoir)
When stopping ART: bNAbs (to potentiate host immune responses)
During ART: therapeutic vaccination (to enhance HIV-specific T cell responses vs conserved elements of HIV), then 2 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) + an immune activator (TLR9a; to reduce the reservoir)
When stopping ART: bNAbs (to potentiate host immune responses)
Reposted by Demi Sandel
1/ We are making progress towards finding a cure for HIV. In a trial @UCSF led by Steve Deeks and @michaelpelusomd.bsky.social, 7/10 participants who received a combination of immunotherapies achieved partial control of HIV after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART).🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Correlates of HIV-1 control after combination immunotherapy - Nature
Nature - Correlates of HIV-1 control after combination immunotherapy
www.nature.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
1/ We are making progress towards finding a cure for HIV. In a trial @UCSF led by Steve Deeks and @michaelpelusomd.bsky.social, 7/10 participants who received a combination of immunotherapies achieved partial control of HIV after stopping antiretroviral therapy (ART).🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
amfAR-funded study by UCSF shows promise for post-treatment HIV control. Most participants show a strong immune response during early viral rebound, demonstrating that, if properly assisted, the immune system can keep HIV in check w/out continued therapy. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Small study shows a promising path toward HIV cure
Antiretroviral drugs that prevent HIV and keep it in check have been transformative, but a cure has been a long sought goal.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
amfAR-funded study by UCSF shows promise for post-treatment HIV control. Most participants show a strong immune response during early viral rebound, demonstrating that, if properly assisted, the immune system can keep HIV in check w/out continued therapy. www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
🚨HUGE SCIENCE WIN ALERT🚨
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
June 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🚨HUGE SCIENCE WIN ALERT🚨
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
Reposted by Demi Sandel
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
"This Court rules that the challenged directives . . . are arbitrary and capricious."
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
June 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
Reposted by Demi Sandel
New from me: Everything feels overwhelming. But here is a tangible thing you can do: write a comment to oppose Trump's plan to convert 50,000 career civil servants into political appointees. Deadline is May 23. Please share!
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Here is a specific thing you can do to fight Trump's politicization of public services
Plus: what I wrote in Science about the revised Schedule F
donmoynihan.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
New from me: Everything feels overwhelming. But here is a tangible thing you can do: write a comment to oppose Trump's plan to convert 50,000 career civil servants into political appointees. Deadline is May 23. Please share!
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
With a torrent of executive orders, President Donald Trump has turned U.S. science upside down in his first 100 days, and the onslaught isn’t likely to end soon. scim.ag/3Yti8Xg
After 100 days of upheaval, what’s next for U.S. science?
Fights over research spending and pending court rulings loom large
scim.ag
May 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
With a torrent of executive orders, President Donald Trump has turned U.S. science upside down in his first 100 days, and the onslaught isn’t likely to end soon. scim.ag/3Yti8Xg
Reposted by Demi Sandel
April 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Demi Sandel
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
April 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...