Minimally invasive tissue testing for meningitis in people with HIV in Zambia
Minimally Invasive Tissues Sampling to Evaluate HIV-associated Meningitis in Zambia
Using small tissue and spinal fluid samples, doctors will look for infections and markers that explain and help diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV in Zambia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11397442 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, clinicians in Zambia will collect small, minimally invasive tissue samples and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from people with HIV who have suspected meningitis and, with permission, perform targeted post-mortems. The team will test samples for common causes such as tuberculous meningitis and other central nervous system co-infections and will search for lipid markers in CSF that could become simple bedside tests. The project will also train and strengthen local laboratory methods so hospitals can handle and analyze CSF and brain tissue more reliably. Together these steps aim to explain why people with HIV die from meningitis and to create faster, more accurate diagnostics usable in resource-limited settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV in Zambia who have suspected meningitis or families willing to allow minimally invasive post-mortem tissue donation are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, patients outside the study regions, or those unwilling to undergo lumbar puncture or tissue donation are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify causes of HIV-associated meningitis and produce faster, more accurate diagnostics that lower mortality.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work has identified meningitis causes and candidate biomarkers, but combining minimally invasive post-mortem sampling with CSF lipid biomarker development in this setting is relatively novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siddiqi, Omar Khalik — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Siddiqi, Omar Khalik
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 below.