How integrase HIV drugs might affect blood pressure through kidney function and weight
Official title: Assessing the mediating role of kidney function and weight/BMI in the association between INSTI use and blood pressure changes and hypertension in PWH: a secondary analysis of the REPRIEVE study.
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11238047 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a common class of HIV drugs (INSTIs) changes blood pressure in people with HIV and whether kidney function or weight explain those changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $81,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI189203-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238047 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who are taking or have taken INSTI-based antiretroviral regimens are the group most directly relevant to these findings.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, children, or those not on INSTI medications are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this analysis.
What this research studies
If you live with HIV and take INSTI drugs, this project uses data from the large REPRIEVE trial to see if those drugs are linked to changes in blood pressure. Researchers recreate a randomized comparison using advanced statistical methods to reduce bias in the non-randomized data. They will also use mediation analyses to see whether changes in kidney function or body weight help explain any blood pressure effects. This work is done using existing trial records and does not enroll new patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors choose HIV medicines and guide monitoring of kidney health and weight to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have reported weight gain and some kidney-related changes after starting INSTIs, but applying trial-emulation and mediation methods in REPRIEVE to link these changes to blood pressure is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brennan, Alana Teresa — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Brennan, Alana Teresa
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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.