Baricitinib for Reducing HIV in the Brain and Spinal Cord
Phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of baricitinib for reduction of HIV in the central nervous system
This research explores if a medication called baricitinib can help reduce HIV in the brain and spinal cord for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11116877 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Even with current treatments, HIV can hide in places like the brain and spinal cord, making a cure difficult. This project aims to see if a medication called baricitinib, which is already approved for other conditions, can help clear HIV from these hidden areas. We will carefully measure HIV levels in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord using a new, sensitive test. The goal is to find new ways to get closer to an HIV cure by targeting these hard-to-reach virus reservoirs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people living with HIV who are currently on antiretroviral therapy and have suppressed viral loads but still have HIV reservoirs.
Not a fit: Patients who are not living with HIV or whose HIV is not well-controlled by current antiretroviral therapy may not benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new strategy to reduce HIV in the central nervous system, bringing us closer to a complete cure for HIV.
How similar studies have performed: While baricitinib is an approved drug for other conditions, its specific use to target HIV in the central nervous system is a novel application being explored in this phase II trial, building on prior preclinical and clinical work with this drug class.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gavegnano, Christina — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Gavegnano, Christina
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 below.