Administrative Core

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor among people with HIV infection (PWH). Given that alcohol use and CVD are common among PWH, addressing alcohol consumption in this population is important. The Southeast Translational Alcohol and HIV Research (STAHR) Center is comprised of investigators with expertise in alcohol, gut dysbiosis, biomarker research, glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) biology, and observational cohort and randomized controlled trial design. The STAHR Center’s overarching theme will focus on inter-related projects involving alcohol consumption, gut dysbiosis derived metabolites, glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), systemic inflammation, and CVD risk among PWH. Our overarching objectives are to test new interventions to reduce alcohol consumption and to identify new targets for future interventions designed to reduce alcohol’s harmful effects among PWH. Our Objectives: 1. Determine whether alcohol, gut dysbiosis and its derived metabolites, gut permeability, inflammation, and CVD risk are associated with endogenous GLP-1 and whether a probiotic increases endogenous GLP-1 among PWH who drink (Project 1 GEM HIV). 2. Determine whether alcohol, gut derived inflammation, and disturbed tryptophan metabolism are associated with CVD risk among PWH and whether a probiotic reduces harmful tryptophan metabolites among PWH who drink (Project 2 GUT CVD HIV) 3. Determine whether a GLP-1 receptor agonist decreases alcohol consumption, smoking, and CVD risk among PWH who drink (Project 3 GL1DER HIV RCT) 4. Provide laboratory, biostatistics, bioinformatics, and biorepository resources to support the proposed research (Resource Core) 5. Provide administrative leadership and services to support the proposed research (Administrative (Admin) Core) 6. To disseminate our research to scientific community, trainees, health professionals, and PWH community (Dissemination Core). The Admin Core will be responsible for day-to-day management and logistics of the STAHR Center. The Admin Core goal is to ensure that the scientific and programmatic activities of the STAHR Center are conducted per protocol in a timely fashion, within budget, and with the highest quality. This Core has these Specific Aims: 1. Provide administrative oversight of the STAHR Center (e.g., assemble a steering committee, program advisory committee (PAC), and data safety monitoring board, and develop policies needed to complete our specific aims). 2. Provide technical support to trainees and investigators including progress reports, compliance assurance, meeting coordination, presentation/publication preparation, and assistance with grant submissions, data and biospecimen repositories. 3. To collaborate with the Resource and Dissemination Cores to ensure that (1) data, specimens, and services are shared across investigators and trainees and (2) to ensure our research is disseminated widely. 4. To promote synergy across other alcohol/HIV research centers. 5. To monitor the progress of the STAHR Center, implement improvement mechanisms, and assist with challenges under the guidance of the steering committee and PAC.