# Preventing Weight Gain and Diabetes in People with HIV in South Africa

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2022 · $196,576

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Background: Obesity and diabetes are important risk factors for morbidity and mortality in people with HIV
(PWH), especially in sub-Saharan Africa where health systems are already grappling with a rapid rise in
metabolic disease. Dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) has recently been adopted as the
first-line regimen in most of the region, despite evidence that it is associated with excess weight gain. While the
HIV care system offers a capable health systems platform, obesity and diabetes prevention is not a current
focus of care paradigms. Candidate: I am a Clinical Fellow in Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General
Hospital and a physician-scientist with doctoral-level training in global health epidemiology and a strong track
record of published observational research. However, my recent experiences caring for PWH have led to a
desire to gain new skills in the design and execution of interventional trials to prevent metabolic disease in this
population. My overarching career goal is to become an independent, NIH-funded physician-scientist with
expertise in the metabolic complications of treated HIV, and in developing and testing clinical interventions to
prevent these complications. Training: To achieve research independence, I will require additional training in
1) obesity medicine and diabetes prevention, 2) behavioral model-based intervention design, and 3) the
conduct and analysis of clinical trials to prevent metabolic complications of HIV. Mentors: My training and
research plans will be overseen by my primary mentor Dr. Mark Siedner, who has extensive mentoring
experience and conducts both observational cohort studies and clinical trials in South Africa. Drs. Janet Lo
(obesity medicine and diabetes prevention), Christina Psaros (behavioral model-based intervention design),
and Deborah Wexler (the conduct and analysis of clinical trials) will serve as co-mentors to provide additional
focused expertise. I will also receive annual feedback from my Scientific Advisory Board, which includes Drs.
Rochelle Walensky, Naomi Levitt, Robert Parker, and Till Bärnighausen. Research: With guidance from my
team of mentors, I will explore the metabolic effects of DTG among PWH in South Africa and develop and pilot
an intervention to mitigate these complications through three specific aims: 1) To determine the behavioral
correlates of weight change and glucose intolerance for PWH transitioning to DTG-based ART in South Africa;
2) To develop an acceptable and contextually appropriate intervention to prevent weight gain and diabetes in
PWH on DTG-based ART in South Africa; and 3) To conduct a factorial-randomized feasibility study of
interventions to prevent weight gain and diabetes among PWH on DTG-based ART versus usual care. We will
carry out this research through existing collaborations with the Wellcome Trust-funded Africa Health Research
Institute (AHRI). Through this period of training and research, I will be wel...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10415167
- **Project number:** 5K23DK125162-03
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Manne-Goehler
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $196,576
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-14 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10415167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10415167, Preventing Weight Gain and Diabetes in People with HIV in South Africa (5K23DK125162-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10415167. Licensed CC0.

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