Extracellular Vesicles as Clues and Targets for Heart Disease in People with HIV
Official title: Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Persons Living with HIV
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11380718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how tiny particles in the blood, called extracellular vesicles, relate to heart disease risk in people living with HIV and looks for new ways to prevent or treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $517,156 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1HL174193-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV on ART who have or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or without cardiovascular risk factors may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
People living with HIV on effective therapy still have a higher risk of heart disease. The project will use advanced lab methods to study extracellular vesicles and their cargo over time and in cooperation with HIV cohorts that also have cardiovascular disease. Researchers will also use a new mouse model and lab systems to identify inflammatory signals carried by EVs that could be targeted to reduce heart risk. If successful, this work could reveal novel targets for therapies that lower inflammation and protect the heart in HIV. The approach combines patient samples, animal models, and modern technology to understand how EVs influence heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the findings translate to humans, this research could lead to new strategies to reduce heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest EVs influence inflammation and cardiovascular processes, but this project aims to uncover specific mechanisms in HIV-related heart disease.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marques de Menezes, Erika Grasiela — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Marques de Menezes, Erika Grasiela
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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.