Innovative imaging to map HIV reservoirs in the brain and CNS with substance use
Official title: Innovative In-Situ Imaging Techniques for the Visualization of CNS associated HIV reservoirs in the Context of Substance Abuse
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11345614 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging approach will create 3D maps of HIV reservoirs in the brain and nearby CNS tissues in the context of substance abuse, to better understand where and how the virus hides.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $541,407 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA058397-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345614 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV, especially those with a history of substance use, who could contribute tissue samples or participate in future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV infection or without involvement in CNS reservoir research are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced tissue clearing and 3D imaging to visualize HIV-infected cells within whole brain and CNS-related tissues. Researchers will apply machine learning to analyze the spatial distribution and extent of viral reservoirs, aiming to identify sanctuary sites that are hard to detect with traditional methods. The study focuses on CNS-associated reservoirs, including calvarial bone marrow and CSF-draining lymph nodes, and compares them with regions in the brain such as the basal ganglia and hypothalamus. The goal is to generate high-resolution maps that could guide future therapies targeting latent HIV in the CNS, particularly in individuals with substance use. The work is described as a development phase under an R61 grant, building toward tools and insights for deeper understanding of HIV persistence in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging approach could enable doctors and researchers to pinpoint CNS reservoirs of HIV, informing more effective treatments and strategies to achieve viral control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous imaging approaches have shown promise in revealing tissue-level HIV reservoirs, but extending to full 3D CNS mapping is a novel and potentially transformative step.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andrews, Allison Michelle — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Andrews, Allison Michelle
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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.