Sex-related factors, inflammation, and blood vessel health in women with HIV
Sex-specific factors, inflammation and vascular health across the lifespan in women living with HIV
This work looks at how sex-related factors and chronic inflammation affect blood vessel health and heart disease risk in women living with HIV across their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248403 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a program that follows women with HIV at different ages to measure heart and blood vessel health, inflammation markers, body fat patterns, and reproductive factors like menopause. The team will collect blood tests, imaging of vessels or heart function, physical exams, and questionnaires to gather data. Researchers will compare results to people without HIV and study how sex-specific biology influences cardiovascular risk over time. Findings will be used to pinpoint patterns that could inform prevention and treatment choices for women with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women living with HIV across a wide range of ages, including those who have experienced early menopause or changes in fat distribution.
Not a fit: Men, people without HIV, or patients whose heart disease is driven by unrelated genetic or non-inflammatory causes may not directly benefit from these specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate heart disease risk prediction and tailored prevention or treatment for women living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies, including the PI's earlier work, have found blood vessel dysfunction and inflammation in people with HIV, but detailed lifespan-focused research specifically in women is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hays, Allison G — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Hays, Allison G
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.