How methamphetamine use affects hidden HIV and health during treatment
Relationship between methamphetamine use, viral reservoir dynamics and clinical progression in treated HIV infection
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11323928
This project looks at how methamphetamine changes immune cells and hidden HIV in people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323928 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have HIV and are on treatment, researchers will compare people who use methamphetamine with those who do not by collecting blood samples and following medical records over time. They will measure monocyte epigenetic marks and inflammatory proteins such as IL-6, sCD14, and sCD163, and examine the size and activity of viral reservoirs in lymphoid and myeloid cells. The team will track viral loads and clinical outcomes to see whether meth use links to viral rebound or faster disease progression. Lab analyses will include DNA/RNA assays and cell studies to understand how methamphetamine might change immune cells and viral persistence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy, including people who currently use or have a history of methamphetamine use, and who can provide blood samples and clinical follow-up.
Not a fit: People without HIV, or people with HIV who are not on antiretroviral therapy or unwilling to provide samples and follow-up, would not be eligible and would not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to reduce viral rebound and protect long-term health in people with HIV who use methamphetamine.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work has shown higher inflammatory markers and greater risk of viral rebound among meth users, but linking monocyte epigenetic changes to reservoir dynamics is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE — CORAL GABLES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: STEVENSON, MARIO — UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: STEVENSON, MARIO
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus