Award
National Institute on Drug Abuse 5R01DA058536-04
Synthetic fentanyls adversely affect the blood-brain barrier and HIV replication in the context of neuroHIV
Recipient
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
Award Amount
$668,098.00
Ceiling
$668,098.00
Awarded
June 09, 2026
Identifier
5R01DA058536-04
The award funds research on the impact of synthetic fentanyls on the blood-brain barrier and HIV progression, focusing on neuroinflammation and opioid abuse in people living with HIV.
Description
This project investigates how synthetic fentanyls alter important functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the implications on HIV neuroinflammation. The study addresses the surge in opioid use, especially illicit fentanyl, linked to increased HIV risk and neurological complications in people living with HIV. It involves analysis of BBB permeability, HIV infection in microglia, and molecular mechanisms of BBB dysfunction using a translational model of the BBB and examines multiple synthetic fentanyls.