How drugs like cocaine and cannabis may affect HIV treatment during pregnancy
Official title: Cocaine and cannabinoids antagonize ART efficacy that promotes HIV infection and inflammatory responses at the maternal-fetal interface
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11393290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Emory will look at how cocaine and cannabis use in pregnant people with HIV could interfere with HIV treatment at the placenta and impact healthy pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,346 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA066140-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393290 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people with HIV who use cocaine and/or cannabis during pregnancy and are on ART.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people with HIV who do not use illicit drugs or who are not on ART may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This research will explore how substance use during pregnancy interacts with HIV therapy to affect the placenta and fetal outcomes. Researchers will study placental transport and metabolism of HIV drugs and how cocaine and cannabis might worsen inflammation and viral activity via PXR signaling. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could explain worsened maternal or fetal outcomes and identify targets to improve ART effectiveness in this high-risk group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better guidance and therapies to protect HIV-positive mothers and their babies during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked substance use to placental dysfunction and altered drug metabolism, but this study aims to clarify the placental ART interactions in the context of HIV.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Dionna Whitney — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Williams, Dionna Whitney
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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.