# Consequences of Persistent Immune Activation among ART-treated Women with HIV

> **NIH NIH K24** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $181,575

## Abstract

7. Project Summary
The NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (POR) (K24) will enable me to
advance research on consequences of persistent immune activation among ART-treated women with
HIV (WWH) while developing my mentoring leadership skills and providing research mentorship to a
diverse, interdisciplinary group of clinical investigators. My overall career goals are to continue to lead
a robust research program with a newly expanded scope: investigating not only how persistent
systemic immune activation among ART-treated WWH influences cardiometabolic disease, but also
how this phenomenon influences diverse end-organ comorbidities - including end-organ disease
incurred in the context of superimposed SARS-CoV-2 infection. As an Associate Professor at Harvard
Medical School (HMS) and the Director of Women’s Health Research in Massachusetts General
Hospital (MGH) Metabolism Unit, I lead NIH R01-funded projects which will serve as an outstanding
platform for mentoring. The collaborative research environment at MGH/HMS supports my work in this
interdisciplinary field, permitting me to synthesize insights from outstanding colleagues expert in HIV
medicine, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, and women’s health. Facilities, curricular offerings,
and consultative services sponsored by the Mass General Research Institute and the Harvard Catalyst
Clinical Translational Science Center contribute to the success of collaborative research. The career
development aims of this proposal are to pursue advanced didactic training in immunology and
biostatistics, as well as advanced didactic training in mentoring leadership. These efforts will help me
expand my research program and build on my longstanding commitment to mentoring - a
commitment reflected in •successful 1:1 mentoring of trainees •contributions to MGH/HMS POR-
training efforts •Co-Direction of the MGH Endocrine Division Faculty Mentoring Initiative •Co-
Sponsorship of the Mentoring the Mentors Workshop at HMS and •receipt of formal recognition for
excellence in mentoring. The primary mentoring aim of this proposal is to nurture and support the
career development of a diverse, interdisciplinary group of clinical investigators, all committed
to POR relevant to the health of WWH. I also aspire to promote a culture of supportive, inclusive
mentoring through leadership in mentoring programming. The K24 award will offer me protected time to
achieve the aforementioned goals. MGH leadership has pledged to protect my time so as to allow me
to focus on POR and POR mentoring. Support from mentors has helped me follow my dream of
becoming an independent clinical investigator. Through this award, I seek to support the career
development of a new generation of clinical investigators who will catalyze ground-breaking advances
in biomedical research -- all for the benefit of patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10161223
- **Project number:** 1K24AI157882-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Markella V. Zanni
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $181,575
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10161223

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10161223, Consequences of Persistent Immune Activation among ART-treated Women with HIV (1K24AI157882-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10161223. Licensed CC0.

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