Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham a $882,512 Project Grant on April 15, 2026, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to investigate the impact of substance use on T cell function in HIV central nervous system (CNS) reservoir seeding, persistence, and neuropathogenesis. The research examines how cannabinoids—specifically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—affect CD4+ T cells and HIV infection in the brain, leveraging documented evidence that cannabinoid exposure modulates immune responses, reduces neuroinflammation, and suppresses T cell proliferation. The project will evaluate the phenotype and distribution of T cells in human brain tissue following cannabinoid exposure and assess how cannabinoids impact HIV latency establishment and infection seeding in brain-resident CD4+ T cells, addressing a significant gap in understanding cannabis use effects on the 25-35% of people living with HIV (PLWH) who report cannabis consumption.

The five-year research initiative, with an ultimate completion date of January 31, 2031, will be conducted at UAB's facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Deliverables include experimental assessments of cannabinoid effects on natural T cell homeostasis in the brain and investigations into mechanisms by which THC and CBD modulate CD4+ T cell infection and HIV persistence within the CNS reservoir. This translational research contributes to NIDA's broader objectives of developing new knowledge and approaches for understanding drug use effects on health outcomes including HIV/AIDS through peer-reviewed, federally funded basic and translational science.