How opioid medications may affect thinking and brain health in people with HIV
Official title: How Buprenorphine and Methadone Differentially Shape Cognitive Outcomes in HIV
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11474460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant tests whether buprenorphine or methadone have different effects on thinking skills and brain health in a model that mimics HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $426,938 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA067366-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with HIV and opioid use disorder who may later participate in human studies or trials building on this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or without opioid use disorder may not experience direct benefits from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare two opioid treatments, buprenorphine and methadone, to see how they influence learning, memory, brain barrier integrity, and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of HIV. The study uses the EcoHIV mouse to simulate HIV infection and examines how each medication interacts with antiretroviral therapy. Two aims run in parallel to measure cognitive performance and neuropathology under opioid dependence. Findings could clarify which treatment might support better brain health for people living with HIV and OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could guide safer, more brain-friendly treatment choices for people with HIV and opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human data suggest differences between buprenorphine and methadone in cognitive outcomes, but animal-model confirmation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcrae, Mary Peace — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Mcrae, Mary Peace
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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.