Heart and liver of the heart: understanding heart damage in HIV-positive women in Africa
Official title: Myocardial Fibrosis and Steatosis Burden and Region-Specific Predictors of Progression among ART-treated Women with HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa (The MUTIMA Study)
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11398264 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will look at heart damage and fat buildup in the hearts of women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to understand what predicts progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $233,358 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167645-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398264 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who may be at risk for myocardial fibrosis and steatosis.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience significant heart changes during the study.
What this research studies
Among women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, heart failure and related risks are a major concern. The study uses advanced heart imaging to measure fibrosis and fat in the heart, and will examine what factors predict worsening cardiac changes over time. The researchers aim to identify how inflammation, metabolic factors, and hormonal aging might drive these heart changes in ART-treated women. By following participants over time, the project hopes to find targets to prevent heart failure and sudden death in this population. This is a collaboration led by the University of Washington to address a critical health issue in a specific high-need group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide personalized prevention and treatment to reduce heart damage and improve survival for HIV-infected women in SSA.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that myocardial fibrosis and steatosis relate to worse heart outcomes, but this specific population has not been studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Longenecker, Chris Todd — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Longenecker, Chris Todd
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project studies heart tissue changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are on antiretroviral therapy, to understand why they’re at higher risk for heart problems as they age.
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Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This grant studies heart tissue changes in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to understand why heart failure risk is higher in this group.
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Heart scarring and fat in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project uses advanced heart imaging to look for scarring and fat inside the hearts of women living with HIV on treatment in sub‑Saharan Africa.
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Heart scarring and fat buildup in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project looks at heart scarring and fat in women on HIV treatment in sub‑Saharan Africa to find early signs that lead to heart failure.
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Heart scarring and fat changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project uses advanced heart imaging to look for scarring and fat build-up in women on HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa to understand what raises their risk of heart failure.
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Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
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.