HIV-associated hypertension: how HIV proteins may drive high blood pressure
Official title: Mechanisms of HIV-associated Hypertension
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11398022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how residual HIV proteins could contribute to high blood pressure in people living with HIV, using animal models to understand the link to heart and blood vessel health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $669,900 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175471-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398022 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with HIV who may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, or patients with related inflammatory or vascular conditions who could benefit from future therapies guided by this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or without cardiovascular risk factors may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study whether HIV components that linger in the body after treatment promote blood pressure increases, vascular dysfunction, and inflammation. They use a mouse model that carries HIV proteins and also test what happens when immune cells are altered, to see if blood pressure and heart health improve. The work combines measurements of blood pressure, blood vessel relaxation, and immune signals to map the pathway from HIV proteins to hypertension. Findings could highlight new targets to prevent cardiovascular disease in people with HIV. The study is conducted at Augusta University under a team led by Dr. Eric J. Belin de Chantemele.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify mechanisms linking HIV to hypertension and point to new strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in this model suggest a link between HIV proteins, inflammation, and hypertension, with early evidence of a causal pathway.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belin de Chantemele, Eric J — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Belin de Chantemele, Eric J
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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.