GLP-1, Alcohol, and Gut Microbes in HIV
Official title: GLP-1, Ethanol, and Gut Microbiome dependent Metabolites in HIV (GEM HIV)
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11395333 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the body's own GLP-1 system, alcohol use, and gut microbes may influence heart health in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $103,215 |
| NIH project number | 5P60AA032176-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395333 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who consume alcohol and are able to participate in a longitudinal study at Vanderbilt.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with HIV who do not drink or who cannot participate in long-term follow-up may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If approved, researchers at Vanderbilt will examine how alcohol intake and gut bacteria interact with endogenous GLP-1 to affect cardiovascular risk in HIV. The project will look at gut-derived metabolites like short-chain fatty acids and bile acids to understand their link to GLP-1 levels and inflammation. Findings could identify new ways to reduce heart disease risk for people with HIV who drink, potentially guiding dietary, probiotic, or therapeutic approaches. The work involves human health data and biological samples to connect drinking patterns with metabolic changes and CVD risk in HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this pathway could lead to new strategies to lower cardiovascular risk for people living with HIV who consume alcohol.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests GLP-1 modulation can influence alcohol-related behaviors and metabolic risk, but the specific HIV-related gut–GLP-1 pathway is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freiberg, Matthew S — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Freiberg, Matthew S
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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.