# Mindfulness and Behavior Change to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older People with HIV

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $75,555

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In this K23 proposal, I outline a comprehensive five-year training program that will prepare me for the transition
to an independent, R01 level investigator capable of developing novel, feasible, and scalable integrative
behavioral interventions to reduce psychological and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in older people with
HIV (OPWH). To achieve this goal, my training objectives are to: 1.) develop expertise in mindfulness and
behavior change for CVD risk reduction; 2.) gain experience in randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and
implementation among OPWH; and 3.) develop proficiency in inflammation biomarker research to better my
understanding of the HIV-CVD pathophysiology. In this application, I propose a significant and innovative
research strategy, an amazing interdisciplinary mentorship team, and comprehensive didactic plan to support
these goals. Background: OPWH are disproportionately impacted by CVD attributable to chronic HIV immune
dysregulation and resulting inflammation. Systemic inflammation is exacerbated by psychological distress via
activating the immune response and driving proinflammatory CVD risk behaviors. There is promising evidence
to suggest that mindfulness could be an effective intervention to reduce psychological distress and support
behaviorally- and inflammatory-mediated CVD risk reduction. Specific Aims and Research Design: I propose
to refine and synthesize mindfulness and behavior change content from evidence-based protocols
(mindfulness-based stress reduction and diabetes prevention program) to develop and pilot test a new text
message-enhanced intervention called “One Mind One Heart” (OM-OH) using feedback from semi-structured
interviews with OPWH in psychological distress (N=20), and my multidisciplinary mentorship team (Aim 1).
Next, I will explore, via an open pilot (N=5) with exit interviews and pre-post self-report assessments, the initial
acceptability of OM-OH and further refine OM-OH as needed (Aim 2). Finally, I will conduct a pilot randomized
controlled trial (RCT; N=50) to a.) evaluate benchmarks of feasibility and acceptability of study methods and
refined OM-OH compared to enhanced usual care, and b.) investigate potential for effects on psychological
distress, inflammation, and behavioral CVD risk (Aim 3). Findings will provide the foundation for an R01
application to conduct an efficacy trial of OM-OH to reduce inflammatory-mediated CVD risk among OPWH.
Training and Mentorship: My training plan will be led by my co-primary mentors Drs. Conall O’Cleirigh and
Gloria Yeh, both renowned researchers focused on intervention development and clinical trials for HIV and
cardiovascular disease, respectively. I will also be supported by a.) a team of expert co-mentors and
collaborators, b.) a rich institutional environment at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical
School, and c.) targeted coursework, scientific meetings, seminars, and planned publications. Relevance to
NHLBI...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10996584
- **Project number:** 3K23HL167650-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacklyn Donna Foley
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $75,555
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-09-05 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10996584

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10996584, Mindfulness and Behavior Change to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older People with HIV (3K23HL167650-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10996584. Licensed CC0.

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