Federal Grant Award Summary

Drexel University received a $501,606 Project Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to conduct research on hormonal and behavioral dysregulation following exposure to antiretrovirals and chronic cocaine use. The award, effective April 1, 2026 through January 31, 2031, supports preclinical research utilizing the ECOHIV mouse model to investigate interactions between HIV treatment regimens—specifically antiretroviral therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—and cocaine exposure. The research addresses critical gaps in understanding how these medications affect hormonal regulation, menstrual cycle function, and drug-seeking behavior in people living with HIV who use drugs, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets to reduce drug relapse and improve HIV treatment outcomes.

The project delivers basic and translational research examining progesterone and allopregnanolone as potential therapeutic targets to modulate neuroimmune function and reduce cocaine-related behavior. Specific focus areas include estrous cyclicity restoration through ART, altered cytokine expression patterns, and the role of the medial preoptic area in regulating both hormonal cycles and cocaine-seeking behavior. This research has potential to inform intervention development strategies that could improve medication adherence and health outcomes for individuals managing both HIV infection and substance use disorders.