Alcohol, HIV, and gut bacteria: effects on gut inflammation
Official title: Gut Microbiota-Mediated Inflammatory Interactions Between Alcohol Use Disorders and HIV Infection
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11162253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether a safe prebiotic that boosts anti-inflammatory gut bacteria can help people with HIV who drink alcohol keep their gut lining healthy and lower inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $720,080 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031197-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults living with HIV, especially those who currently drink alcohol regularly or have alcohol use disorder, and who can attend study visits at the research site.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those who do not drink alcohol, or those who cannot take or tolerate prebiotic supplements are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will enroll people living with HIV, some who drink alcohol and some who do not, to compare gut bacteria, markers of gut barrier health, and inflammation. They will collect stool and blood samples and use lab-grown intestinal organoids to study how alcohol and HIV together damage the gut lining. The team will give a safe, SCFA-promoting prebiotic supplement designed to increase anti-inflammatory bacteria and see if that protects the gut from alcohol-related injury. Visits include sample collection and simple clinical tests while researchers measure changes in microbes, short-chain fatty acids, and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help protect the gut lining and lower inflammation in people with HIV who drink alcohol, potentially reducing related health problems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human studies show SCFA-promoting prebiotics can reduce gut inflammation, but using them specifically for people with HIV and alcohol use disorder is a newer application.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keshavarzian, Ali — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Keshavarzian, Ali
Related research
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Gut bacteria, HIV, and alcohol: how microbes affect gut health in people with HIV
This NIH grant studies how alcohol use and HIV together affect the gut’s bacteria and barrier, exploring a possible way to reduce gut inflammation in people living with HIV.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.