Understanding how nicotine affects brain inflammation in people with HIV
Official title: Investigating the role of nicotine and the NRLP3 Inflammasome in HIV-1-Associated CNS Inflammation
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11085355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how smoking nicotine might affect brain inflammation in people with HIV, aiming to understand how this interaction could impact thinking and memory, so we can find better ways to help those who smoke and live with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31DA062536-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085355 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who also use nicotine products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV or do not use nicotine may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of nicotine on neuroinflammation in individuals living with HIV. It focuses on how nicotine and HIV-1 interact to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, which plays a crucial role in inflammation and cognitive impairment. By using advanced models, including humanized mice, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this interaction and its effects on the blood-brain barrier. The findings could lead to better understanding and management of cognitive issues in HIV patients who smoke.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for cognitive impairment in HIV patients, particularly those who use tobacco.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome can be effective in managing inflammation, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keane, Aislinn — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Keane, Aislinn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving Breast Cancer Guideline Adherence in Nigeria
Aimed at helping doctors in Nigeria follow international guideline-based breast cancer care to improve outcomes for women with breast cancer.
-
Genetically Validated PCOS Subtypes for Better Diagnosis and Risk Stratification
Aimed at women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), this project uses genetic data and patient characteristics to define distinct PCOS subtypes and improve how we diagnose and estimate risk.
-
Closed-loop control of interneuron timing to influence seizures and memory in epilepsy
A study tests a brain-quieting system that uses light to precisely time certain brain cells in epilepsy-prone mice to see if this can lessen seizures and improve memory.
-
Understanding why some brain regions and cells accumulate tau in Alzheimer’s and related diseases
Researchers are studying why certain brain areas and neuron types accumulate tau protein in Alzheimer’s and related conditions, and how this leads to brain changes and symptoms.
-
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.
-
Aging and brain injury connection: learning how late-life TBI relates to Alzheimer’s and related dementias
This grant looks at whether traumatic brain injuries in people 65 and older are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, using a large, harmonized set of long-term aging studies.
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.