NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Adapting an evidence-based workout program to slow frailty in older women living with HIV

Official title: Adapting an Evidence-Based Physical Activity Intervention to Prevent Frailty and Functional Decline in Older Women Living with HIV

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11470073 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A new program will tailor a proven physical activity plan to help older women with HIV stay stronger, more mobile, and less frail.

More Frailty research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startAugust 1, 2026
Project endJuly 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$3,781,063
NIH project number1RF1AG105013-01
Project IDNIH-11470073 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are women aged 50+ living with HIV who have mobility concerns or early signs of frailty.

Less likely to help

Some participants with advanced frailty or comorbidities may see limited benefit or require additional medical oversight.

What this research studies

Older women living with HIV often develop frailty and functional decline earlier than others. This grant aims to adapt and test an evidence-based exercise and education program that combines strength, balance, and behavior change to the needs of this population. The study will recruit participants aged 50 and older with mobility challenges and guide them through a group-based activity plan that fits their HIV-related health and social contexts. By addressing physical, psychosocial, and environmental barriers, the project intends to preserve physiologic reserve and improve everyday function. If successful, it could become a scalable approach to healthy aging for OWWH.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience improved strength, mobility, and quality of life, with reduced risk of falls and disability.

How similar studies have gone: Similar adaptations of exercise programs have improved function in older adults, but this study tests a tailored approach for OWWH.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Bobitt, Julie — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Bobitt, Julie

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants

    A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11550096

  • AI-enabled bone aging and frailty markers in osteoporosis using advanced imaging

    A clinician-scientist is using artificial intelligence with CT scans and epigenetics to better understand early bone aging and osteoporosis in adults.

    NIH research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, United States · NIH-11530274

  • Time-restricted eating for fatigue and frailty in people with cancer

    A 12-week study will test whether eating within a daily 10-hour window helps reduce fatigue and slow frailty in people living with advanced cancer.

    NIH research University of Maryland Baltimore · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11449363

  • Functioning, Frailty, and Well-being in aging women

    A large NIH grant is funding a study to understand how aging affects physical and mental functioning in women, with the goal of helping maintain independence and quality of life.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11421747

  • Frailty and sarcopenia in aging adults

    Aging adults, especially women, may develop frailty and muscle loss, and this project explores how muscle blood flow and inflammation relate to these conditions and to dementia and heart problems.

    NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11411368

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.