Microglia, HIV, and cocaine: how brain circuits change
Official title: Microglial modulation of neurocircuits in HIV/cocaine comorbidity
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11468420 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will explore how HIV and cocaine history together affect brain cells and circuits that control thinking and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Award (this year) | $508,540 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059310-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468420 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV infection who may experience neurocognitive challenges and have a history of psychostimulant use.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or without a history of stimulant use may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one living with HIV experiences cognitive problems and has a history of cocaine use, this study looks at the brain cells called microglia and how they interact with nerve connections. Researchers will use lab models of HIV infection and cocaine exposure in brain cell cultures, plus animal tests, to see how these factors may damage synapses and disrupt brain signaling. The goal is to understand the mechanisms behind accelerated brain changes and identify points where treatments might help protect cognitive function. The work could point toward strategies that limit cognitive decline in people with HIV who have used psychostimulants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to new approaches to preserve thinking and memory in people living with HIV who have a history of cocaine use.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked microglia, synaptic damage, and HIV with neurocognitive issues, but the specific role of cocaine history is being explored in this project.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Booze, Rosemarie M — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Booze, Rosemarie M
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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.