Personalized probiotic strategies to slow aging in people with HIV who misuse alcohol
Official title: Geroprotective Precision Medicine Strategies in PWH that Use Alcohol
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11421523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly plan to test tailored probiotic and diet ideas to reduce aging-related health problems in people with HIV who have a history of heavy drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $618,265 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA032764-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV who have a significant history of alcohol use and are at risk for geriatric frailty.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or without significant alcohol use history may not benefit from this specific plan.
What this research studies
This project aims to tailor probiotic and antioxidant-rich dietary approaches to slow aging and improve health in people with HIV who use alcohol. Researchers will combine information about a patient’s gut microbes, overall health, and alcohol history to craft personalized probiotic recommendations. The study builds on prior findings that gut bacteria and immune cell aging are linked to frailty, and tests whether individualized probiotic choices can help reduce aging-related health risks. By pursuing a precision-medicine style strategy, the team hopes to identify probiotic regimens that work best for different patient profiles. Outcomes may include measures of frailty, immune function, and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive personalized probiotic-based plans to reduce aging-related health problems and improve well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Some studies in related areas suggest microbiota-based strategies can influence aging markers, but results with alcohol-using populations are mixed and require personalization.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Welsh, David a — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Welsh, David a
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.