Heart energy problems and stiffening in people living with HIV
Cardiac Energy Metabolism and Diastolic Dysfunction in PLWH
This project looks at whether low heart-cell energy in people living with HIV contributes to a 'stiff' heart that leads to breathlessness, exercise limits, and risk of heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163284 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have HIV and are on treatment, this project will measure how well your heart cells make and use energy using a specialized scan called 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and standard heart ultrasound. The team will also measure blood markers of inflammation and other tests that can affect mitochondria, the heart's energy factories. By combining these tests, they hope to link energy problems to the common 'stiff' heart issue (diastolic dysfunction) in people with HIV and track how it changes over time. Results could point to ways to prevent or treat the heart changes that make daily activities harder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy, especially those with symptoms like exercise intolerance or prior findings of diastolic dysfunction, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, or those whose heart problems are primarily systolic heart failure or due to unrelated causes, would likely not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat diastolic heart problems in people living with HIV by targeting heart energy or inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Small pilot clinical studies and preclinical work have suggested an energetic problem in the hearts of people with HIV, but larger clinical evidence is still limited and this work builds on those early findings.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weiss, Robert G — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Weiss, Robert G
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.