How HIV-related stigma and stress may cause artery plaque buildup
Psycho-neuro-immune Mechanisms Linking Stigma and Discrimination to Carotid Plaque Formation in Persons living with HIV
This project looks at whether everyday stigma and stress in adults living with HIV are linked to brain and immune changes that lead to plaque in the neck arteries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami Coral Gables NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of 150 adults with HIV who are on stable treatment and have undetectable viral loads. During the study you'll complete real-time phone reports about everyday stigma and stress, give blood samples to measure immune markers like IL-6 and monocyte activation, and undergo a brain scan that measures responses to social rejection. The team will also perform high-resolution carotid ultrasound to look for artery plaque and connect the phone reports, blood markers, and brain responses to any plaque found.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 35–55 living with HIV who are on stable antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral load and no history of heart failure are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People younger or older than the 35–55 range, those not on stable ART or with detectable virus, or those with existing heart failure or major cardiovascular disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people with HIV whose stress-related biology raises their risk for artery plaque and point to new ways to reduce that risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links chronic stress and inflammation to heart disease, but combining momentary stigma reports, brain imaging, immune markers, and carotid plaque measurement in people with HIV is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami Coral Gables — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcintosh, Roger Christopher — University of Miami Coral Gables
- Study coordinator: Mcintosh, Roger Christopher
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 below.