Protecting the brain early in HIV infection by adding a quick-acting drug to antiretroviral therapy
Protection against early SIV brain injury with adjunctive therapy to cART
This project tests whether adding the approved drug dimethyl fumarate to standard HIV treatment can prevent early brain damage and help recovery after infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285355 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a rhesus macaque model that mimics the early brain injury seen soon after HIV infection to see if dimethyl fumarate (DMF) plus antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces inflammation and oxidative damage. Animals will receive cART with or without DMF shortly after infection, and scientists will measure brain inflammation, antioxidant enzyme activity (including HO-1), and tissue recovery. The team will also use human brain autopsy samples and genetic data from people living with HIV to connect the animal findings to human biology. The overall goal is to identify a fast-acting, FDA-approved drug that could be added to cART to protect the brain during the critical early phase of infection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future human trials would most likely focus on people with very recent HIV infection or those starting antiretroviral therapy early who could receive an add-on neuroprotective drug.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, established HIV-related brain injury or those who cannot take DMF due to medical contraindications are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding DMF early to standard HIV therapy could lower brain inflammation and reduce the risk or severity of HIV-associated cognitive problems.
How similar studies have performed: Dimethyl fumarate is FDA-approved for multiple sclerosis and shows antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, but using it with ART to prevent early HIV brain injury is a novel, not-yet-tested approach in humans.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kolson, Dennis Larry — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kolson, Dennis Larry
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.