Preventing Alzheimer's-like brain changes in people with HIV by targeting CCR5
Official title: PREVENTING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE-LIKE BRAIN PATHOLOGY IN HIV INFECTION BY TARGETING CCR5
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11284059 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if blocking the CCR5 protein can prevent Alzheimer's-like brain changes in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $690,748 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132517-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284059 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults living with HIV—particularly those on long-term antiretroviral therapy or with new or worsening memory and thinking problems—who could donate samples or be considered for related clinical studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those whose cognitive problems are clearly caused by non‑Alzheimer’s conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers will study brain tissue from people with HIV along with lab-grown cells and humanized mice that mimic the human immune system. They will measure Alzheimer’s-related markers such as amyloid-beta and phosphorylated Tau, enzymes that make or break amyloid, and signs of inflammation and blood-brain barrier injury. The team will test whether blocking the CCR5 protein lowers these harmful changes and improves markers of brain health. The work combines lab experiments, animal models, and analysis of human samples to build a picture of how HIV and antiretroviral therapy influence dementia-related processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce Alzheimer's-like brain damage and lower the risk of cognitive decline in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical work by this team found HIV increases amyloid and tau in models, but using CCR5 blockers to prevent these Alzheimer’s-like changes is still mainly at the preclinical stage and not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kanmogne, Georgette D. — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kanmogne, Georgette D.
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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.