Award
National Institute on Drug Abuse 5R01DA060755-03
HIV Tat and Opiate-mediated aberrations in glial-neuronal crosstalk: Implications for the role of extracellular RNA in HAND
Recipient
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
Award Amount
$517,330.00
Ceiling
$517,330.00
Awarded
April 21, 2026
Identifier
5R01DA060755-03
The award supports research on the combined effects of HIV Tat protein and opiates on brain cell communication, particularly how extracellular microRNAs contribute to neurocognitive disorders in HIV patients. The project will explore RNA-based therapies to mitigate synaptic damage caused by these factors.
Description
This project investigates how HIV Tat and opiates affect glial-neuronal interactions, focusing on the role of extracellular RNA in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). The study aims to understand the mechanisms by which HIV Tat and morphine exacerbate synaptic injury through microRNA-mediated pathways and to test therapeutic RNA interventions in rodent models and archival macaque brain tissues.