Chemical Probes and Drugs for Modulating HIV Transcription in the Context of Substance Use Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This grant is titled 'Chemical Probes and Drugs for Modulating HIV Transcription in the Context of Substance Use Disorders'. It's designed to promote research into the complex link between HIV infection and substance misuse, two interconnected conditions that often exacerbate each other's harmful impacts in those suffering from substance use disorders (SUD).

The persistence of HIV and its reactivation through transcription can contribute to various neurological complications. To tackle these issues, the grant supports the development of strategies targeted at suppressing HIV transcription and inducing latency, before reactivating and clearing the virus.

This endeavor's aim is twofold. Firstly, it supports projects designed to identify the potential targets and pathways that could be exploited to suppress HIV transcription in HIV reservoirs including the central nervous system in those grappling with SUD. Secondly, the initiative encourages the use of innovative small molecule drug discovery techniques to unearth new compounds.

These novel compounds could serve dual purposes - they might function as pharmacological probes and provide the basis for the development of drugs that successfully suppress HIV transcription in those suffering from the co-occurring conditions of HIV and SUD. Thus, the intention of this grant is to fund research that contributes to both understanding and combating these two potent health challenges.