Understanding weight gain from HIV medications
Defining cellular and molecular processes underlying adipose tissue dysfunction onINSTI-based antiretroviral therapy
This project aims to understand why some HIV medications, called INSTIs, can cause weight gain, especially in women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189720 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people living with HIV benefit from modern medications called INSTIs, which are very effective and have fewer side effects. However, some studies have noticed that these medications can lead to weight gain, particularly for women, and we don't fully understand why this happens. Our team believes that INSTIs might affect how the body uses energy and how estrogen works in fat cells, which could contribute to this weight gain. We are exploring these connections to find out exactly how INSTIs might be changing the body's metabolism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with HIV who are taking INSTI medications and experiencing or concerned about weight gain may find this research particularly relevant.
Not a fit: Patients not taking INSTI-based HIV medications or those without concerns about weight gain may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or manage weight gain for people taking INSTI-based HIV medications, improving their overall health and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Our own previous work in rodent models and findings from other groups in non-human primates have shown similar effects, suggesting a promising direction for this investigation.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Sangwon F — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Sangwon F
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.