Cannabis, HIV and Mental Processing Systems (CHAMPS)

Summary

This project aims to identify the key determinants and consequences of concurrent HIV infection and regular cannabis use, focusing on immune activation, brain structure, and neuropsychological performance to inform HIV treatment and cure strategies.

What they want

The project will acquire extensive phenotype data from peripheral and brain markers of immune activation, brain structure, and neuropsychological performance (NP) in persons living with HIV (PLWH) receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users) and HIV uninfected (HIV-) controls (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users). The overall hypothesis is that cannabis use increases inflammation in peripheral and brain compartments, and that phenotypic signatures due to regular cannabis use and HIV will be delineated through NP and brain volumetrics. Aim 1 hypothesizes that regular cannabis use will increase both peripheral and brain immune indices in PLWH on cART. Aim 2 hypothesizes that regular cannabis use will lead to a worsening of NP and reductions in brain volumetrics in both PLWH on cART and HIV- controls.

Deliverables

Key insights into the effects of regular cannabis and HIV on peripheral and brain markers of immune function and neuropsychological performance in PLWH and HIV- controls.

Technical requirements

Acquisition of extensive phenotype data
Measurement of peripheral and brain markers of immune activation
Measurement of brain structure
Assessment of neuropsychological performance (NP)
Use of brain volumetrics
Study groups: 80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users among PLWH on cART
Study groups: 80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users among HIV-uninfected controls