Using AI to find why HIV and drug use harm the brain
Knowledge discovery and machine learning to elucidate the mechanisms of HIV activity and interaction with substance use disorder
This project uses artificial intelligence to find causes and possible drug leads for thinking and memory problems in people with HIV, especially those who use drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140433 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use AI tools that read and connect scientific papers to spot molecules and biological pathways that link HIV and substance use to brain damage. The team then tests the top AI-picked small molecules and targets in lab models that mimic HIV-associated brain injury, including experiments combining HIV proteins and drugs like cocaine. Promising lab results will guide efforts toward new treatments and markers that could be studied in people with HIV. Most work is based at the University of South Carolina with collaborators who could enable future clinical steps.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who have memory or thinking difficulties and/or a history of substance use disorder are the most relevant group for these findings and future trials.
Not a fit: People without HIV, or those whose cognitive symptoms come from other causes such as aging or stroke, are less likely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new medicines or targets to prevent or treat HIV-associated cognitive problems, especially in people who use drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work from this team showed AI-predicted molecules prevented HIV-Tat and cocaine-induced nerve cell damage in laboratory tests, but no approved therapies for HAND exist yet.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shtutman, Michael — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Shtutman, Michael
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.