HIV-related brain inflammation and the complement system explained
Official title: HIV mediated dysregulation of the CNS complement system: A Mechanistic Link Between Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11469932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using a human brain model to understand how HIV drives brain inflammation and may cause cognitive problems by changing the brain’s immune system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $682,295 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS151863-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11469932 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would include people living with HIV and healthcare teams with access to CNS-related clinical data or brain tissue samples, though the study itself uses human brain organoid models rather than patients directly.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or those not involved in studies of brain inflammation and cognition related to HIV are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use a vascularized human brain organoid that includes neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and blood vessel cells to study how HIV-activation of microglia leads to complement system changes that tag synapses for removal. Researchers will map where and why complement activation happens, identify what triggers it, and determine how it affects neuronal networks. The work aims to connect immune signals in the HIV-infected brain to observable cognitive dysfunction, using a human-relevant model rather than traditional animal systems. Findings could reveal targets to prevent synaptic loss and preserve cognition in people living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new ways to protect brain synapses and cognitive function in people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests brain complement signaling contributes to neurodegeneration, but this human-brain organoid approach is novel and directly modeled to HIV-related changes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ayyavoo, Velpandi — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ayyavoo, Velpandi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
The WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway's role in brain insulin use and age-related memory loss
This project will see if the WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway makes the aging brain use insulin and sugar less well and whether fixing that can help memory in Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
-
Subjective thinking challenges in adults with lupus as they age
This grant aims to understand how lupus-related cognitive problems affect adults, especially older adults, and tests a real-time method to track daily fluctuations in those symptoms.
-
Pain, Mood, and Thinking Problems in HIV- and AUD-risk Patients
A long-running NIH grant explores how alcohol use, HIV, and negative feelings affect thinking and pain, with the goal of improving care for people living with HIV who struggle with alcohol-related problems.
-
Thinking and brain changes in childhood lupus
This project uses brain scans and cognitive tests to learn why children with lupus sometimes have trouble with thinking and school.
-
Brain immune cells and cognitive trouble in lupus
A study in lupus patients and mouse models looks at how brain macrophages may be linked to thinking problems.
-
How anesthesia can affect memory and thinking after surgery
This research looks at how common anesthetic drugs might lead to memory, attention, or thinking problems after surgery, especially in babies and older adults.
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.