Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $783,830 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 15, 2026, with completion scheduled for March 31, 2030. The award funds the HIV and Endothelial Function in Women of Reproductive Age (HEART) study, a prospective cohort investigation conducted at Atlanta and Miami sites that will enroll 400 participants to longitudinally examine vascular endothelial function, ovarian hormones, inflammatory response, and hypertension incidence in women of reproductive age with and without HIV.

The primary deliverables include longitudinal clinical and laboratory data characterizing the mechanisms underlying hypertension development in women living with HIV, with particular attention to the roles of reproductive aging, immune activation, and estradiol levels in vascular dysfunction. By leveraging the existing NIH-funded Study of Treatment and Reproductive Outcomes in Women (STAR) cohort, the study will generate evidence to identify reproductive-aged women living with HIV at highest cardiovascular disease risk and inform prevention strategies in the modern antiretroviral treatment era. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding why women living with HIV experience elevated cardiovascular disease risk that is more pronounced in younger populations.