Project Grant R01DA065079

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded a $685,937 Project Grant to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, effective March 15, 2026, through December 31, 2030, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279). This research initiative investigates the impact of opioid use disorder (OUD) on mitochondrial dysfunction in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-receiving aging people with HIV (PWH). The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how concurrent conditions—aging, HIV infection, and opioid addiction—collectively contribute to inflammaging, a low-grade chronic proinflammatory immune response that accelerates age-related health complications in this vulnerable population. The project leverages preliminary data demonstrating increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in immune cells of older PWH and builds on the hypothesis that OUD exacerbates this dysfunction through shared pathophysiological mechanisms affecting cellular metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.

The award funds research conducted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus in Baltimore, Maryland, to generate new knowledge on the biological mechanisms linking mitochondrial dysfunction to enhanced inflammatory responses in aging PWH with concurrent OUD. These research deliverables directly support NIDA's mission to develop new knowledge and therapeutic approaches for substance use disorder prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while addressing comorbid health conditions including HIV/AIDS. The findings are expected to inform the development of targeted interventions addressing the unique clinical needs of aging individuals with HIV and opioid use disorder, contributing to improved treatment strategies and health outcomes for this population.