Body-microbe links behind lung disease in people with HIV in low- and middle-income countries
Official title: Harnessing multi-omics to identify host-microbiome interactions driving HIV-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in low and middle income countries.
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11197590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use many types of biological measurements to find how microbes and immune responses contribute to lung disease in adults living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $516,662 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1HL174240-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11197590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21 years and older) living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries—especially in sub-Saharan Africa—who can provide blood and oral or respiratory samples and basic health information.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, children under 21, or individuals unwilling or unable to provide biological samples or attend participating clinics are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would be asked to give blood and samples from the mouth and possibly the lung so scientists can measure microbes, genes, proteins, and inflammatory markers. The team will compare people with HIV who have poor lung function or COPD to those without lung disease to spot patterns. Advanced lab methods and computer analyses (multi-omics) will be used to map how the body's responses and microbes interact. Results aim to reveal markers or pathways that explain why people with HIV develop COPD more often in these settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people with HIV at high risk for COPD and point to new ways to prevent or treat lung disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in the US have linked the microbiome to COPD in people with HIV, but applying broad multi-omics in low- and middle-income country populations is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Sweta Mahesh — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Patel, Sweta Mahesh
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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.