# Neurobiology Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $711,950

## Abstract

NEUROBIOLOGY CORE PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: The overall objective of the Neurobiology Core 
(NB) is to provide the NeuroAIDS community with a set of neurobiological resources that will enhance the 
analysis and discovery of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration associated with prolonged survival with HIV 
infection, from a comprehensive and dynamic perspective. The NB Core has been re-organized into In Vivo 
and In Vitro Units to better serve the current and future needs of the neuroAIDS field. The main resource 
objectives will be to: (a) provide a set of innovative state-of-the-art neuropathological and neurobiological in 
vivo and in vitro resources to support studies of the mechanisms of viral persistence/eradication, influence of 
microbiome in neuro-inflammation and role of aging in neurodegeneration with HIV infection, (b) encourage 
and facilitate collaborative work addressing these and other scientific themes of the Center, and (c) provide 
user training and consultation to new investigators. 
 In addition, the NB Core Scientific objectives will include: (1) To provide support for studies of HIV infection 
in the CNS that address viral persistence and eradication, including molecular studies of chromatin modifiers, 
epigenetic markers and markers of viral production and cycling; (2) To provide in vitro and in vivo 
neuropathological resources and assays in support of the Microbiome theme, that could include studies of 
patterns of neuro-inflammation, neuro-vascular unit injury and gut pathology in patients with HAND; (3) To 
provide quantitative analysis of novel sets of HIV related neuropathologies in support of the theme on Aging. 
Examples of work on the Aging theme could include neuropathological and biochemical studies of: amyloid-β 
protein (Aβ) deposits including cerebral amyloid angiopathy; Tau and α-synuclein accumulation; markers of 
autophagy and lysosomal activation; markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy; brain immunophilin 
response; and human primary neuro-glial, brain endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell cultures. And 
finally, (4) we will continue supporting clinico-pathological studies which investigate the relationship between 
new markers of neurodegeneration and HAND. 
 Understanding the neuropathological basis for viral persistence and neural injury in the context of aging 
and the microbiome as contributing factors, will elucidate mechanisms through which HIV leads to HAND and 
inform new treatments for this disabling condition.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10071091
- **Project number:** 5P30MH062512-20
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** CRISTIAN L ACHIM
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $711,950
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10071091

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10071091, Neurobiology Core (5P30MH062512-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10071091. Licensed CC0.

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