Understanding the sexual cycle of Pneumocystis to find new treatments for HIV-related pneumonia
Official title: Elucidating the Sexual Cycle of HIV/AIDS-Related Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11380769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at the University of Cincinnati is exploring how Pneumocystis jirovecii completes its life cycle to identify new drug targets for Pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $468,042 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL176858-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with HIV/AIDS or other conditions that weaken the immune system who are at risk for Pneumocystis pneumonia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Pneumocystis pneumonia or those not involved in antifungal treatment development may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies the sexual reproduction process of Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that causes dangerous pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems. Scientists will map when and how the organism undergoes sexual development and how that helps it survive and spread. They will test how antifungal drugs that block this reproductive cycle affect the infection in animal models and analyze gene expression changes to pinpoint potential new drug targets. The goal is to discover strategies that could reduce transmission and improve treatment when current options are limited by drug intolerance or toxicity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that target the sexual cycle of Pneumocystis, potentially improving outcomes for patients with HIV/AIDS who develop Pneumocystis pneumonia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in mice suggest that targeting the sexual cycle can eradicate Pneumocystis pneumonia, supporting this approach as promising but still under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smulian, Alan George — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Smulian, Alan George
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
FIOCRUZ HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Unit: advancing HIV prevention and treatment in Brazil
A Brazilian clinical trials unit led by Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn is testing and speeding up new HIV prevention and treatment strategies to help people living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk.
-
Breeding colony expansion to support HIV/AIDS research with rhesus macaques
A funding opportunity to expand a specialized Rhesus macaque breeding population to support HIV/AIDS research at Tulane’s primate facility.
-
HIV Resilience Observatory in a rhesus macaque colony expansion
A program to build a rhesus macaque breeding colony and use AI-powered monitoring to study why some HIV/AIDS outcomes differ among individuals with similar backgrounds.
-
Indoor-Outdoor Housing Expansion to Support HIV/AIDS-Related Research
A HIV-focused project at a primate research center will use new indoor/outdoor housing and AI-assisted monitoring to study why people with similar backgrounds can have very different HIV outcomes.
-
Hearing changes in people with HIV and in people without HIV in Tanzania
This project follows people living with HIV and similar individuals in Tanzania to see how hearing and brain function relate over time and whether hearing tests can help predict cognitive changes.
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.