Description

This opportunity, offered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at NIH, seeks to advance foundational research on the interplay between mitochondrial function, aging, HIV infection, and exposure to addictive substances. The goal is to elucidate both protective and pathogenic mechanisms at this nexus, with the expectation that new knowledge will inform the development of targeted therapies and improve health outcomes for people aging with HIV and substance use disorders (SUD).

Research supported under this program should focus on basic and preclinical studies, including but not limited to:

• Mitochondrial dynamics, function, metabolomics, and stress responses in the context of HIV and SUD.
• Mechanisms to alleviate mitochondrial stress and prevent or improve outcomes in people with or at risk for HIV and SUD.
• Mitochondrial regulation of neural and immune cell activation/senescence, considering HIV status, ART, substance use (including polypharmacy), and age.
• The role of mitochondrial haplotypes and somatic mutations in neurocognitive impairment and SUD as people with HIV age.
• Genomic and epigenomic damage from HIV and addictive substances, and their contribution to neuropathogenesis.
• Computational modeling to identify individuals at risk for pathological aging in the context of HIV and SUD.

Substances of interest include (but are not limited to): opioids (synthetic and non-synthetic), nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, stimulants, psychedelics, xylazine, addictive prescription drugs, cannabinoids, or combinations thereof.

Note: Applications must address the intersection of HIV and misused substances. Projects focused solely on alcohol as the misused substance are not responsive.