Aging with HIV: Novel Biomarkers of Inflammation and Morbidity
Description: PROJECT NARRATIVE Older adults with HIV (OAH) experience more co-morbidities than their HIV negative peers despite viral suppression with antiretroviral medications, and inflammatory changes with aging in the setting of HIV remain incompletely understood. New biomarkers are needed to identify OAH at higher risk of geriatric syndromes, and recent advances in understanding of cellular death processes, including necrosis-mediated cell death, have allowed for measurement of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmtDNA) as a novel biomarker. The goals of this proposal are to investigate cfmtDNA in plasma and urine as a biomarker of geriatric syndromes in a longitudinal study of OAH, evaluate the immunostimulatory potential of cfmtDNA, and foster the career development of a physician-scientist who has, and will continue to, dedicate her career to HIV research.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Funding type: career_development
Funder scheme: K23
Start date: 2021-08-15
End date: 2027-04-30
Investigator: CARRIE DOWN JOHNSTON
Institution: WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
Funded outputs count: 15
Funder award ID: K23AG072960
OpenAlex ID: G9000915236