Immune responses in tuberculous meningitis among adults with HIV
Official title: TB Meningitis: Evaluating CSF Immunology to Discover Hidden Disease and Potential Immunomodulatory Therapies
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11146547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at immune signals in spinal fluid from adults with HIV and suspected tuberculous meningitis to find hidden infections and point to possible immune-based treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $645,211 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI162786-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who have symptoms suggesting tuberculous meningitis and who can undergo lumbar puncture for CSF collection are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, children under the study age cutoff, or anyone unable or unwilling to have a lumbar puncture would likely not be eligible and would not receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From your perspective, doctors would collect spinal fluid (CSF) when TB meningitis is suspected and use a very sensitive test (Xpert Ultra) to find bacteria that routine tests miss. They will measure immune proteins and cells in the CSF to see which patterns are linked with getting better or worse. Researchers will compare people with different levels of bacteria and immune responses to identify harmful or protective immune signatures. The goal is to use those findings to guide new treatments that adjust the immune response in people with HIV and TB meningitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV and lead to treatments that reduce dangerous immune reactions and improve survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that Xpert Ultra detects more TB in CSF than older tests and that immune markers relate to outcomes, but immune-targeting treatments for HIV-associated TB meningitis remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boulware, David R — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Boulware, David R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
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Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
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Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.