Tiny blood particles linked to heart disease risk in people living with HIV
Official title: Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Persons Living with HIV
Funded at Vitalant · NIH-11098654 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at tiny particles called extracellular vesicles in adults with HIV on antiretroviral therapy to understand how they may relate to atherosclerotic heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vitalant NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $517,156 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1HL174193-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098654 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and willing to provide blood samples and cardiovascular health information.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or those unwilling to give blood samples or medical records are unlikely to be enrolled or to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of research that analyzes extracellular vesicles (EVs) from blood samples taken over time from adults living with HIV to see which inflammatory molecules they carry. Scientists will use high-throughput lab tests to profile EV cargo and compare those profiles to measures of artery thickness and cardiovascular disease in the same people. The team will also use a novel mouse model and cell-based experiments to test which EV components drive inflammation and atherosclerosis. Participation may involve donating blood, allowing review of your medical records, and occasional visits to a study site.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal blood-based markers that predict heart disease risk and point to new targets for treatments in people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior studies link extracellular vesicles to heart disease, but applying detailed patient sample profiling together with mouse and lab models in people with HIV is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vitalant
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marques de Menezes, Erika Grasiela — Vitalant
- Study coordinator: Marques de Menezes, Erika Grasiela
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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.