Reducing heart disease risk in people with HIV by treating hidden CMV virus
Official title: Impact of Treating Asymptomatic CMV Replication on Cardiovascular Risk in Treated HIV Infection
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11420028 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Treating hidden CMV replication in people living with HIV who are on ART may lower vascular inflammation and cardiovascular risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $726,175 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL152957-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420028 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV on stable antiretroviral therapy, with asymptomatic CMV co-infection and elevated cardiovascular risk markers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CMV replication or without elevated vascular inflammation may not experience benefit from CMV-directed therapy.
What this research studies
This project tests whether suppressing asymptomatic CMV replication in people with HIV who are already on antiretroviral therapy can reduce markers of vascular inflammation and lower cardiovascular risk. Building on a pilot trial, the study will use a randomized design to treat CMV with letermovir and measure changes in inflammatory pathways and cardiovascular biomarkers, including FDG-PET/CT imaging. The goal is to understand if CMV suppression can translate into meaningful reductions in atherosclerosis-related risk for patients living with HIV. The research is conducted within the ACTG framework and leverages existing clinical trial infrastructure at a major HIV research center to study a human condition and potential patient-benefiting intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce cardiovascular inflammation and lower heart disease risk in treated HIV patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior findings from a pilot letermovir trial showed reductions in inflammatory pathways linked to cardiovascular disease in this population.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunt, Peter W — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Hunt, Peter W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How treating a virus in HIV patients may lower heart disease risk
This study is looking at whether treating a common virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) can help improve heart health for people living with HIV who are on medication, and it involves testing a new antiviral drug to see if it can reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart problems.
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Effects of treating a virus on heart health in HIV patients
This study is looking at whether treating a common virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) can help improve heart health in people living with HIV who don’t have symptoms, by using a new antiviral drug, letermovir, to see if it reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of heart problems.
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Understanding how genetic changes in blood cells relate to heart disease in people with HIV
A study will look at how age-related blood cell mutations and large chromosomal changes might contribute to heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
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Cardiac health and protein markers in kids with perinatal HIV exposure or infection
A study from Duke aims to understand heart health and protein biomarkers in children who were exposed to or infected with HIV at birth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
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HBV cure clues in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific B and T cell responses relate to curing hepatitis B in people with and without HIV.
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.