Understanding and Treating Brain Disorders in People with HIV
Official title: Neurological Disorders in HIV-1 Infection
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11162450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how a specific chemical byproduct might cause brain and nerve problems in people living with HIV, and tests new ways to reduce it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $191,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS139920-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational work is for people living with HIV who experience neurological disorders, as it aims to uncover new treatment pathways for their condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients would not directly participate in this preclinical animal study, so there is no immediate direct benefit for individuals.
What this research studies
Many middle-aged people living with HIV experience neurological disorders, but we don't fully understand why or how to treat them. This project suggests that a reactive chemical called methylglyoxal (MG), a byproduct from how our bodies use sugar, might be a key trigger for these brain issues. We are using special mouse models that have HIV to see how MG levels relate to brain changes, blood vessel leakage, and inflammation. We also plan to test new, cell-penetrating peptides designed to lower MG and see if they can help prevent or reduce these neurological problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medications that target methylglyoxal to prevent or treat neurological disorders in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel, aiming to establish a new link between methylglyoxal and HIV-related neurological disorders and explore new peptide-based interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bidasee, Keshore R — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bidasee, Keshore R
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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.