Chemical Probes and Drugs for Modulating HIV Transcription in the Context of Substance Use Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This grant is aimed at supporting research to tackle HIV in the context of Substance Use Disorders (SUD). HIV infection and SUD are often comorbid, meaning they co-occur and mutually exacerbate each other, leading to worse outcomes for those suffering from SUD. One key complication of persistent HIV infection is the development of neuropathological complications, caused by the continual reactivation of HIV transcription.

The grant initiative advocates for a dual-strategy approach to address this. The first part involves identifying targets and pathways that can suppress HIV transcription in HIV reservoirs (including the central nervous system) in people with SUD. By understanding how to silence this transcription, this could potentially inhibit the disease's progression.

The second part of the strategy looks into applying emerging drug discovery methods to find new compounds. These could function as both pharmacological probes, assisting in research, and as drugs themselves. The goal is to discover substances that can suppress HIV transcription in individuals who have both HIV and SUD concurrently.

This grant does not permit clinical trials and is focused purely on research to develop new strategies for modulating HIV transcription in the context of SUD. The overall objective is to improve the prognosis for people with this comorbidity.