NIH-funded research R21 grant

Better Medicines for HIV/AIDS

Official title: Developing Selective Inhibitors and Probes for Concentrative Nucleoside Transporters

Funded at Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci · NIH-11146560 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This work aims to create new and safer versions of current HIV/AIDS medicines by targeting specific transporters in the body.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (North Chicago, United States)
Project startAugust 1, 2024
Project endJune 30, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$176,196
NIH project number5R21AI181894-02
Project IDNIH-11146560 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

This foundational work is for patients living with HIV/AIDS who currently take or may need nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and experience or are at risk for drug-related toxicities.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have HIV/AIDS or are not treated with nucleoside-based therapies would not directly benefit from this specific research.

What this research studies

Many current HIV/AIDS medications, while effective, can cause serious side effects like kidney problems or weight gain. This project focuses on tiny structures in our bodies called nucleoside transporters, which move these medicines around. By understanding how these transporters work, we hope to design new medicines that are just as effective but cause fewer unwanted side effects. Our goal is to make HIV/AIDS treatments safer and more comfortable for patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new HIV/AIDS medications that are more tolerable and have fewer severe side effects for patients.

How similar studies have gone: While the concept of optimizing existing therapies is established, this specific approach of developing selective inhibitors for concentrative nucleoside transporters to reduce HIV/AIDS drug toxicity is a novel area of focus.

Where this research is happening

  • Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
    North Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Buolamwini, John K — Rosalind Franklin Univ of Medicine & Sci
  • Study coordinator: Buolamwini, John K

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.