How alcohol use affects gut health in people with HIV
Official title: Gut Microbiota-Mediated Inflammatory Interactions Between Alcohol Use Disorders and HIV Infection
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-10934375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol affects gut health and inflammation in people living with HIV, and it’s testing whether taking prebiotics can help improve gut health and reduce inflammation for those individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $718,494 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031197-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10934375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who also have alcohol use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV or alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between alcohol use disorder and inflammation in individuals living with HIV. It focuses on how alcohol impacts gut microbiota and intestinal barrier integrity, potentially worsening inflammation. The study explores the use of prebiotics that promote beneficial gut bacteria to enhance gut health and reduce inflammation in these patients. By examining the gut's response to alcohol in the context of HIV, the research aims to identify effective interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved gut health and reduced inflammation for patients with HIV who also struggle with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in using prebiotics to improve gut health, suggesting this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keshavarzian, Ali — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Keshavarzian, Ali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut bacteria, HIV, and alcohol: how microbes affect gut health in people with HIV
This NIH grant studies how alcohol use and HIV together affect the gut’s bacteria and barrier, exploring a possible way to reduce gut inflammation in people living with HIV.
-
Alcohol, HIV, and gut bacteria: effects on gut inflammation
Looks at whether a safe prebiotic that boosts anti-inflammatory gut bacteria can help people with HIV who drink alcohol keep their gut lining healthy and lower inflammation.
-
Vitamin D, gut bacteria and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
This work will look at whether low vitamin D and changes in gut bacteria are linked to higher dementia risk in older adults living with chronic HIV and similar community members.
-
Vitamin D, gut bacteria, and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
This project looks at whether vitamin D levels and differences in gut bacteria are linked with dementia risk in older adults living with long-term HIV and in similar people without HIV.
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Investigating the link between vitamin D, gut health, and dementia risk in older adults with chronic HIV.
This study is looking at how vitamin D and gut health might affect the risk of dementia in older adults with chronic HIV, to find ways to help prevent Alzheimer's and similar conditions.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
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.