How the HIV medicine dolutegravir is processed in young people in Ghana
Official title: PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACOGENOMICS OF DOLUTEGRAVIR-BASED ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN GHANA (PHARMA-YOUNG-HIV)
Funded at University of Ghana Medical Centre · NIH-11171598 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the HIV drug dolutegravir is handled by the bodies and genes of children, teens, and young adults with HIV in Ghana to better understand side effects and treatment success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Ghana Medical Centre NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Accra, Ghana) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $144,613 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI186750-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171598 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young people aged about 10–24 years living with HIV in Ghana who are taking or planning to switch to dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, adults outside the 10–24 age range, or those not on dolutegravir (or unwilling to provide blood samples) are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would be asked to give small blood samples so researchers can measure dolutegravir levels and test genes that affect how the drug is broken down. The team will also track your HIV viral load and any side effects such as weight change, glucose issues, or mood changes over time. Researchers will compare results across ages, adherence patterns, and other medicines to see who has low, normal, or high drug levels. All visits and tests would be done at clinical sites with attention to confidentiality and usual care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors pick safer, more effective dolutegravir doses and reduce side effects or treatment failure for young people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Dolutegravir has proven highly effective in adults, but pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenomic studies in African children and adolescents are limited, making this approach relatively new for this group.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Ghana Medical Centre
Accra, Ghana Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomford, Nicholas Ekow — University of Ghana Medical Centre
- Study coordinator: Thomford, Nicholas Ekow
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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.