Understanding how certain immune cells contribute to liver and gut diseases in people with HIV.
Official title: Dysregulated neutrophil subpopulations as a driving mechanism of liver and gastrointestinal disease in HIV-1-infected individuals
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11083775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells, called neutrophils, can harm the gut and liver in people with HIV, and it aims to find new ways to protect these organs from damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $734,114 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135413-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are experiencing gastrointestinal or liver issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or those without gastrointestinal or liver complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of specific types of immune cells called neutrophils in causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract and liver in individuals infected with HIV. The study aims to understand how these neutrophils change in response to HIV infection and how they contribute to disease progression. By examining these immune cells in both blood and tissues, researchers hope to identify potential targets for new treatments that could help protect the gut and liver from damage. The research will involve both patient samples and animal models to explore these mechanisms in detail.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies that protect against liver and gastrointestinal damage in HIV-infected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting immune cell behavior can lead to improvements in disease outcomes, suggesting that this approach may hold promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hel, Zdenek — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Hel, Zdenek
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.