Immune and metabolic gene patterns tied to depression in people with HIV
Official title: Immunometabolicgene expression profiles associated with depressed mood and behavioral domains inpeople with HIV
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11123505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at immune and metabolism-related genes to find links to low mood and loss of pleasure in adults living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $696,003 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH128869-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11123505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV, especially those experiencing depressive symptoms like loss of pleasure, who can attend study visits at the site, are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those whose depression has causes unrelated to immune or metabolic changes may not benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You would give blood samples and complete questionnaires and cognitive tests about mood and pleasure. Researchers will use RNA sequencing and protein biomarker tests to measure immune and metabolic gene activity, focusing on the mTOR and NLRP3 pathways. They will compare results from about 80 people with HIV to 40 age-matched people without HIV to find patterns tied to anhedonia and treatment-resistant depression. The goal is to connect specific gene and protein signals with the clinical symptoms of depression in people with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new immune- or metabolism-targeted approaches to treat depression in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research and the investigators' preliminary data suggest immune–metabolic links to depression, but targeted treatments for depression in people with HIV are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ellis, Ronald J. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Ellis, Ronald J.
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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.