Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
Official title: Myocardial Fibrosis and Steatosis Burden and Region-Specific Predictors of Progression among ART-treated Women with HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa (The MUTIMA Study)
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11594185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies heart tissue changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are on antiretroviral therapy, to understand why they’re at higher risk for heart problems as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $347,491 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL167645-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11594185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are willing to undergo cardiac imaging and follow-up assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV or those not receiving ART may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will use advanced heart imaging to measure fibrosis and fat in the heart of ART-treated women with HIV in SSA. The study aims to identify region-specific factors that predict progression of this heart damage over time. By focusing on women, the work seeks clues about why heart failure and sudden death are more common in this group and how to prevent it. The findings could guide targeted prevention and treatment strategies for heart disease in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of heart disease risk in HIV-positive women could lead to earlier detection and tailored prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that heart tissue changes can predict outcomes, but this project is among the first to characterize it specifically in ART-treated women with HIV in SSA.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Longenecker, Chris Todd — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Longenecker, Chris Todd
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This grant studies heart tissue changes in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to understand why heart failure risk is higher in this group.
-
Heart and liver of the heart: understanding heart damage in HIV-positive women in Africa
This study will look at heart damage and fat buildup in the hearts of women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa to understand what predicts progression.
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Heart scarring and fat in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project uses advanced heart imaging to look for scarring and fat inside the hearts of women living with HIV on treatment in sub‑Saharan Africa.
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Heart scarring and fat buildup in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project looks at heart scarring and fat in women on HIV treatment in sub‑Saharan Africa to find early signs that lead to heart failure.
-
Heart scarring and fat changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project uses advanced heart imaging to look for scarring and fat build-up in women on HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa to understand what raises their risk of heart failure.
-
Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living 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.