Blocking CSF1R to Slow Brain Aging in HIV Patients
Official title: Effects Of CSF1R Blockade On Brain Aging
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11470941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether blocking CSF1R can slow brain aging and cognitive decline in people with HIV by using a macaque model to mirror aging and HIV effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $874,974 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG105060-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470941 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with HIV aging or at risk for HAND, who could benefit from therapies targeting brain aging and neuroinflammation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or those not at risk for HAND or aging-related cognitive decline may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a macaque model to mimic accelerated brain aging in treated HIV infection and compare it with natural aging. They will test whether CSF1R blockade can reduce neuroinflammation, restore myeloid cell balance, and protect the brain’s protective barrier, aiming to improve cognition. The study will translate findings to future research in virally suppressed people aging with HIV or aging naturally, guiding potential therapies. The project integrates aging, HIV, and neurodegeneration biology to identify a therapeutic strategy with relevance to HAND and AD risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that protect cognition for people aging with HIV and reduce Alzheimer’s/ HAND risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous related studies show that targeting neuroinflammation and microglia can influence cognitive outcomes in aging models; this approach is a novel application in the context of HIV-associated neurocognitive risk.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Woong-Ki — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Kim, Woong-Ki
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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.