Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome to protect HIV patients from stroke
Official title: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome as a therapeutic link between HIV-1 infection and ischemic stroke
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11411011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant will explore whether HIV infection makes stroke worse and whether blocking a brain inflammation pathway (NLRP3) could protect brain tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $153,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03NS149961-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411011 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with HIV infection and a risk or history of stroke or cerebrovascular conditions, or those contributing brain tissue samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or stroke risk may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
People living with HIV may have a higher risk of severe stroke. This project uses lab studies, animal models, and human tissue approaches to see if HIV activates NLRP3 in the brain and worsens stroke damage. If NLRP3 is involved, the team will test drugs or genetic methods to block this pathway and reduce brain injury and improve recovery. The work could lead to new strategies to protect HIV patients from stroke-related disability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to treatments that lessen stroke damage in people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work links NLRP3 inflammasome to neuroinflammation and stroke, but its role in HIV-related stroke is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Torices, Silvia — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Torices, Silvia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
EP2 blockers to protect the brain after a stroke
Aims to test brain-permeable EP2 antagonists to reduce damage after ischemic stroke and improve recovery.
-
Genetic testing to find causes of early-onset ischemic stroke
This project uses whole-exome sequencing to look for gene changes that may cause ischemic stroke in adults who had a stroke at a young age.
-
Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
-
How biological aging and blood proteins relate to thinking after a stroke
This project looks at whether measures of biological aging and patterns of blood proteins help explain which stroke survivors keep their thinking sharp and which go on to develop vascular dementia.
-
Repurposing NEXLETOL to treat ischemic stroke
Aims to see if the cholesterol drug NEXLETOL can help people after an ischemic stroke by supporting brain energy use and reducing injury.
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.