Reducing brain inflammation in people with HIV who use cocaine
Official title: Development of NLRP3 inhibitors for HIV-associated neuroinflammation in cocaine use.
Funded at University of Texas El Paso · NIH-11159533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing new drugs that block a key inflammation switch in the brain to help people with HIV who use cocaine keep their thinking and movement skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,876 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA059788-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who have cognitive or motor symptoms and a history of cocaine use would be the primary candidates for related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are unrelated to inflammation or who do not have a history of cocaine use may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are designing drugs that block the NLRP3 inflammasome, a protein complex that drives brain inflammation in HIV. They will use lab-grown cells and animal models that mimic HIV infection and cocaine exposure to see whether these drugs lower inflammatory signals like IL-1β and prevent neuron death. The team will measure markers such as caspase-1 activation, inflammatory cytokines, and signs of cell damage to judge drug effects. Positive results would support moving these treatments toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could reduce brain inflammation and help protect thinking, memory, and motor skills in people with HIV who use cocaine.
How similar studies have gone: NLRP3 inhibitors have shown promise in animal models of other neuroinflammatory conditions, but applying them specifically to HIV plus cocaine-related brain injury is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kulkarni, Amol Anant — University of Texas El Paso
- Study coordinator: Kulkarni, Amol Anant
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.