Cell-type epigenomic study to find drug targets for people with HIV who use cannabis
Official title: Cell-type based epigenomic analysis to identify druggable genes for people living with HIV infection and using cannabis
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11392878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with HIV who use cannabis aims to map how cannabis changes DNA regulation in specific immune cells to find druggable genes that could help HIV treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,041,690 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA061926-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who use cannabis and are undergoing antiretroviral therapy, with consent to provide blood samples for immune cell analyses.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV, not using cannabis, or not participating in genetic/epigenomic analyses may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how cannabis affects DNA methylation in specific immune cell types from people living with HIV. They will use cell-type–based analyses and genome-wide methylation profiling to identify methylation changes and potential drug targets, considering genetic variants that influence methylation. The project builds on prior findings linking HIV, epigenetics, and immune regulation to identify mechanisms that could guide new therapies. The work is based on human samples and aims to translate epigenomic insights into targets for improving HIV control or treatment. Results could inform future therapeutic strategies that complement antiretroviral therapy for PWH who use cannabis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reveal new drug targets to improve HIV treatment and inform personalized medicine for PWH who use cannabis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows cell-type–specific epigenetic changes in HIV; this project extends that approach to cannabis interactions, which is novel but builds on established methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Ke — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Ke
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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.