# Immune Activation and Neurodegeneration in HIV Infection and Heavy Drinking

> **NIH NIH K23** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $127,648

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
This administrative supplement is submitted in response to NOT-OD-21-052 on “Requesting Extensions for
Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19.” Dr. Mollie
Monnig’s K23 award was nearing the end of Year 4 in March 2020 when the COVID pandemic caused a
nationwide shutdown. Prior to the shutdown, research and training activities were on track for timely
completion. However, negative impacts of COVID have delayed the completion of research projects and
training goals. The first major impact was disruption of laboratory alcohol research from March 2020-January
2021. The K23 study is an intensive lab experiment that must be conducted in person due to controlled alcohol
administration and collection of biospecimens (breath, blood, saliva, and urine samples). The study cannot be
adapted to remote administration in a safe or meaningful way. Resumption of data collection required creation
of new safety protocols and extensive adaptation of in-person procedures (e.g., blood collection, cognitive
testing, alcohol administration) to follow social distancing and biosafety guidelines. Employment contracts with
research staff were honored, yet staff were not able to complete primary research duties for which they were
hired. Payment of research staff during lab downtime significantly diminished the funds now available to
complete data collection and to perform biomarker assays on Aim 4 outcomes. Some supplies (e.g.,
vacutainers) were expired and had to be disposed of. In addition to lab downtime, the PI Dr. Monnig was
unable to engage fully in career development activities such as networking, grantwriting, research
dissemination, and didactics due to the need to care for her two young children (under 3 years of age) at
home. Dr. Monnig’s family lost access to childcare for 5 months in 2020 due to the pandemic. Thus, funds are
requested to offset expenses for loss of RA effort, supplies, and PI effort. The proposed extension will allow Dr.
Monnig to fully achieve K23 aims by completing data collection and analysis. Although Dr. Monnig submitted
two R01 proposals while under lockdown in March and July of 2020, inability to finish K23 research on the
original timeline weakened these proposals due to incomplete preliminary data. Similarly, although Dr. Monnig
has published or submitted primary papers for Aims 1 and 2, research barriers and lack of childcare delayed
the primary publications for Aims 3 and 4. There is clear evidence that women and junior scientists have been
more severely affected by negative impacts of COVID on research, especially when they have major
caregiving responsibilities.1-4 In sum, the proposed extension will support Dr. Monnig’s transition to
independent investigator via completion of K23 aims, as well as key career development activities
(collaborations, funding applications, publications, and networking). Dr. Monnig’s primary mentor, Dr. Peter
Monti, and secondary m...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10373467
- **Project number:** 3K23AA024704-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Mollie A Monnig
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $127,648
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-06-15 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10373467

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10373467, Immune Activation and Neurodegeneration in HIV Infection and Heavy Drinking (3K23AA024704-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10373467. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*