Gut HIV and inflammation: links to heart disease in people living with HIV
Elucidating the role of the gut reservoir and inflammation in driving cardiovascular disease among persons living with HIV
This project looks at whether leftover HIV in the gut and ongoing inflammation raise heart disease risk in people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093955 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of research that examines gut tissue and blood from people living with HIV on ART to look for lingering HIV and signs of inflammation. Researchers will use a multi-omics approach — including gene expression, metabolomics, pathogen sequencing, cytokine profiling, and immune cell analysis — to map pathways connecting the gut reservoir to systemic inflammation. They will compare molecular findings with blood markers of cardiovascular risk and clinical measures to identify links to heart disease. Participation may involve rectal tissue sampling, blood draws, and sharing clinical information.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults living with HIV on stable ART—particularly those with undetectable plasma viral loads—who can provide blood samples and agree to gut tissue sampling.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those unable or unwilling to provide blood draws or gut biopsy samples are unlikely to participate or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatment targets or tests to reduce inflammation and lower heart disease risk in people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have found persistent HIV in gut tissue linked to inflammation, but applying an integrated multi-omics approach to connect the gut reservoir specifically to cardiovascular disease is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lahiri, Cecile Delille — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Lahiri, Cecile Delille
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 below.