Understanding how stress, stimulant use, and depression connect in people with HIV
Neuroimmune pathways linking chronic psychosocial stress to co-occurring stimulant use and depression in HIV disease: a mechanistic clinical trial
This project looks at how long-term stress affects the brain and immune system in people with HIV who also use stimulants, aiming to find better ways to support their mental health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to understand how ongoing stress, stigma, and stimulant use impact the brain and immune system in individuals living with HIV. We will use a positive mood intervention called ARTEMIS to observe how it changes brain activity and immune responses. This approach will help us uncover the specific ways stress contributes to challenges like depression and substance use. Our goal is to identify new targets for treatments that can improve the mental well-being of this specific group.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people living with HIV who experience chronic psychosocial stress, use stimulants, and have symptoms of depression or anhedonia.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have HIV, do not use stimulants, or do not experience chronic stress and depression may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that address the underlying biological links between stress, stimulant use, and depression for people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: While the positive affect intervention (ARTEMIS) is evidence-based, this project uniquely applies it to uncover the specific brain and immune system changes linking stress, stimulant use, and depression in people with HIV.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meade, Christina S — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Meade, Christina S
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 below.