Using doxycycline to slow emphysema in people living with HIV
Official title: 2/2 Doxycycline for Emphysema in People Living with HIV: The DEPTH Trial
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10914045 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The DEPTH trial is testing whether the antibiotic doxycycline can help slow down emphysema in people living with HIV, and if you join, you'll either get doxycycline or a placebo for about a year and a half while we check how well your lungs are working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $944,023 |
| NIH project number | 5U24HL154946-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914045 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are current or former smokers and have been diagnosed with emphysema.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have emphysema or are not living with HIV may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The DEPTH trial investigates the use of doxycycline, an antibiotic, to slow the progression of emphysema in individuals living with HIV, a group that experiences accelerated disease progression. This phase II clinical trial will involve multiple centers and will randomly assign participants to receive either doxycycline or a placebo over a 72-week period. Participants will be monitored for changes in lung function, specifically the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), which is a measure of how well oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood. The trial aims to provide a targeted therapy for a condition that currently lacks effective treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new treatment option to slow the progression of emphysema in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results in testing the safety and tolerability of doxycycline for this purpose, indicating potential for success in this larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spino, Catherine a — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Spino, Catherine a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: a study in diverse adults
Researchers will look at CT scans and lung tests in older adults to understand different forms of emphysema and how they relate to health outcomes.
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Lithium as a potential disease-modifying treatment for emphysema using a precision approach
A low-dose lithium approach is being studied to slow or modify emphysema in smokers who have COPD.
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Imaging and multi-omics to find subtypes of emphysema in COPD
This project looks for molecular subtypes of emphysema in COPD by combining imaging with blood and tissue data to improve understanding and treatment options.
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Precision phenotyping of emphysema in the elderly: the MESA Lung Study
Aging adults with or without COPD-related symptoms may benefit from a new study that maps subtypes of emphysema on CT scans to better predict health risks.
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E-cigarette use and emphysema risk in young adults (VapeScan)
A study to understand whether vaping or traditional cigarettes cause early lung damage in young adults.
-
Loss of lung blood-vessel stem cells that may speed lung aging and raise emphysema risk
Researchers will look at how losing a type of lung blood-vessel progenitor cell may make lungs age faster and increase emphysema risk in adults.
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.