How gut bacteria affect AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma and its treatment
Official title: Impact of microbiota on AIDS-Kaposi’s sarcoma development and therapy
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11401413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the bacteria in the body may influence KS cancer risk and treatment outcomes in people with HIV/AIDS.
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 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $784,213 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284554-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who are at risk for or have AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma, particularly from African regions with high KS incidence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV/AIDS or KS, or those not eligible for the specific therapies studied, may not benefit.
What this research studies
In people with HIV, Kaposi’s sarcoma is linked to a herpesvirus and lingering immune issues. The research team studies gut and oral bacteria to understand how microbial signals drive inflammation and KS progression in a high-risk population, especially in underserved African communities. They use preclinical KSHV KS models and collaborate with experts in HIV, microbiology, and cancer to identify potential targets and biomarkers for therapy. The goal is to find new ways to prevent KS or improve how well treatments work by addressing microbiome-related inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new microbiome-based strategies to prevent or improve treatment of AIDS-KS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings show a link between microbiota and KS-related inflammation in preclinical models, supporting further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Shou-Jiang — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Gao, Shou-Jiang
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How mouth and other microbes affect Kaposi’s sarcoma in people with HIV
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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.