# Functional Imaging Reserve in NeuroHIV (FIRN)

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $631,196

## Abstract

ABSTRACT/PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal systematically characterizes brain efficiency and recruitment in virologically suppressed persons
living with HIV (PLWH) and demographically similar HIV uninfected (HIV-) controls. This proposal collects
advanced functional neuroimaging that provide critical information about cerebral blood flow (CBF) and brain
connectivity (functional connectivity strength; FCS); quantitative measures of immune dysfunction in the
blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (immune activation and immune exhaustion); and neuropsychological
performance testing. This overall goal of this proposal is to delineate the interplay between dysfunction in
frontal networks and recruitment of compensatory networks that underlie the neuropsychiatric symptoms seen
in PLWH. This proposal investigates fundamental questions through two aims. Aim 1 determines the
neuroimaging signatures of brain efficiency and recruitment in virologically suppressed PLWH. We
hypothesize that PLWH will have increased recruitment of compensatory networks to offset reduced
engagement in frontal networks. Among PLWH, we hypothesize that worse neuropsychological performance
will be associated with reduced brain efficiency, despite recruitment of compensatory networks . We
hypothesize that the presence of immune dysfunction (immune activation and exhaustion) among PLWH will
be associated with reduced brain efficiency despite recruitment of compensatory networks. Aim 2 determines
the effects of brain efficiency and recruitment on aging in virologically suppressed PLWH. We hypothesize that
younger PLWH (< 50 years old) will have a profile of brain efficiency and recruitment that is similar to older
HIV- individuals (> 50 years old). Compared to younger PLWH (< 50 years old) older PLWH (≥ 50 years old)
will have reduced brain efficiency despite recruitment of compensatory networks. We hypothesize that this
relationship may be mediated by immune dysfunction. Results of this study will provide powerful insight into
the pathophysiology of disease and will reveal arenas for future possible interventions in PLWH who have
impaired neuropsychological performance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10201421
- **Project number:** 5R01MH118031-04
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Beau M Ances
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $631,196
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-20 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10201421

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10201421, Functional Imaging Reserve in NeuroHIV (FIRN) (5R01MH118031-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10201421. Licensed CC0.

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