Investigating how nicotine affects brain inflammation in people with HIV-1
Official title: Nicotine and NLRP3 Inflammasome in HIV-1-Associated CNS Inflammation
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11086711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how smoking might affect brain inflammation and thinking skills in people with HIV-1, using samples from tonsils, brain tissue, and special lab-grown cells to see if nicotine makes things worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $758,730 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059876-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV-1 who also have a history of smoking.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV-1 or do not have a history of smoking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between nicotine use and inflammation in the brains of individuals infected with HIV-1. It focuses on understanding how nicotine may activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, a key player in neuroinflammation, which could contribute to cognitive decline in people with HIV-1. The study will utilize human tonsil samples, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia, and a specialized mouse model to track changes in inflammation. Additionally, it will analyze brain samples from deceased individuals to compare inflammation markers between smokers and non-smokers with HIV-1.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and potential treatments for cognitive decline in HIV-1 patients who smoke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that targeting neuroinflammation may improve cognitive outcomes in HIV-1 patients, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Swartz, Talia H — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Swartz, Talia H
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.