How substance use, mood, and brain development interact in young people living with HIV

Cape Town Adolescent Antiretroviral Cohort- Substance, Imaging, Mental Health (CTAAC-SIM)

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN · NIH-11139635

This project looks at how substance use, mood problems, and brain changes affect adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Cape Town.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (nih funded)
Locations1 site (RONDEBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA)
Trial IDNIH-11139635 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would be asked about substance use, mood, and daily functioning and may have brain scans and cognitive tests. The project compares young people who acquired HIV at birth with those who became infected during adolescence to see differences in substance use and brain development. Researchers combine questionnaires, medical records, neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging to map links between HIV, substance use, and mental health during brain maturation. Results aim to identify patterns that could guide more tailored care for different groups of youth with HIV.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the Cape Town area, including both perinatally infected and behaviorally infected individuals, would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without HIV, those outside the adolescent/young adult age range, or those unable to participate in Cape Town activities are unlikely to benefit directly.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help tailor mental health, substance-use support, and brain-health monitoring for young people with HIV.

How similar studies have performed: There is prior brain-imaging and substance-use research in youth with HIV, but direct comparisons between perinatally and behaviorally infected young people are uncommon, so this work is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

RONDEBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.