How medications for opioid use disorder affect brain inflammation and cognition in people with HIV
Official title: Effects of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder on Microglial Activation and Neurocognition in People Living with HIV
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11121918 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different medications for opioid use disorder affect the immune system in the brains of people living with HIV, to see if these treatments can help improve brain health and thinking skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,162,746 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA060493-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121918 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are also receiving treatment for opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV or who are not undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of various medications for opioid use disorder on immune activation in the brain of individuals living with HIV. It aims to understand how these medications influence the behavior of immune cells, particularly myeloid cells, and their potential effects on cognitive function. By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid and using advanced genomic techniques, the study seeks to uncover the relationship between opioid treatment and brain health in this population. The findings could provide insights into optimizing treatment strategies for those affected by both HIV and opioid use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options that enhance cognitive function and reduce inflammation in people living with HIV who also struggle with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that opioid antagonists may have beneficial effects on neuroinflammation, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Farhadian, Shelli — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Farhadian, Shelli
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
A program to help people with opioid use disorder get better, faster, and safer care after they leave jail.
-
Precise epigenetic drugs for opioid addiction
A tiny, targeted drug approach is being developed to help people with opioid use disorder by rewriting the epigenetic signals in the brain to reduce cravings and relapse risk.
-
Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
This project helps unhoused people in Montana get life-saving medicines for opioid use disorder through clinics connected to syringe service programs, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer support.
-
Optimizing long-acting PrEP and opioid treatment for people in jails and prisons
This project tests a real-world approach to using long-acting PrEP and buprenorphine for HIV prevention and opioid treatment among incarcerated individuals and after release.
-
Scaling up medications for opioid use disorder in residential treatment programs
This grant studies how to help residential treatment programs provide medications for opioid use disorder to reduce overdoses after discharge, focusing on real-world settings and policies.
-
Increasing Capacity at a Native Community Clinic to Improve Opioid Care for urban AI/AN
This grant helps a Native American health clinic build its research capacity to better serve urban American Indian and Alaska Native people dealing with opioid use disorder and related health issues.
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.