Reducing harmful brain activity and inflammation in people with HIV
Official title: Suppression of Pathological Spontaneous Cortical Dynamics and Inflammation in NeuroHIV
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-11258013 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at whether changing brain activity and inflammation can protect thinking and memory in adults living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Father Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boys Town, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $673,117 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA056223-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11258013 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV (age 21 and older), including those with well-controlled virus or mild cognitive symptoms, are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or whose cognitive problems are caused by other advanced neurological diseases are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use brain scans and blood tests to measure abnormal brain activity and signs of inflammation. They will compare people with HIV to see how ongoing inflammation links to problems with thinking and memory and will examine how cannabinoids might change that inflammation. The team will also use lab studies to trace molecular pathways that lead to cortical circuit dysfunction. Together these approaches aim to identify specific targets that could be treated to protect cognition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new anti-inflammatory or cannabinoid-related approaches that protect thinking and memory for people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous imaging and small human studies suggest inflammation and cannabinoids can affect brain function, but no proven treatments have yet emerged, so this builds on promising but still preliminary findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Boys Town, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilson, Tony W. — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Wilson, Tony W.
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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.