Research

Resources Offered

The HNRC has established itself as a productive, multidisciplinary endeavor whose organization, resources, and procedures have fostered multi-investigator and multidisciplinary cooperative research.

The HNRC is organized as a set of four Scientific Cores and a Developmental Core, with the work of these entities being harmonized by an Administrative Core. The Scientific Cores were chosen to provide the techniques and resources necessary for the next generation of neuroHIV research. They include Cores in NeuroBehavioral and Psychiatry, NeuroMedical, Microbiome, and NeuroVirology and Biology.

The HNRC maintains an extensive data repository containing data from study participants including background history, neuromedical examinations, neurocognitive testing, laboratory measures, and in some instances more advanced neuroimaging and behavioral data. Associated biospecimens including blood, cerebrospinal fluid and other fluids may also be available. We welcome external investigators who may wish to take advantage of this dataset, and anyone interested should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or submit a request form electronically here. We will assign one of our staff or faculty experts to discuss with you what your interests are, and how we may be of assistance.

Below is a description of the available HNRC resources.

Scientific Cores

1. NeuroBehavioral and Psychiatry  Core (David J. Moore, PhD and Murray Stein, MD, MPH)

The NeuroBehavioral and Psychiatry (NBP) Core is a clinical assessment core with the primary goal of providing comprehensive and longitudinal neurocognitive, psychiatric and everyday functioning characterization of PWH and HIV- comparison participants, and serving as a resource to local, national and international research on neurocognition, psychiatric outcomes such as depression, and neurobehavioral phenotypes among PWH. Our core is co-led by a senior HIV clinical neuropsychologist (David J. Moore, PhD) who is at the forefront of examining cognitive, psychiatric and real-world difficulties of PWH, and Murray Stein, MD, MPH, an internationally-recognized expert on mood and anxiety disorders and Andrew Miller, MD, psychiatrist and leading authority in immune-depression relationships as a consultant.

Examples of Resources Available:

• Consulting
  • Training and Certification of Processes
  • Study Design
  • Data Analysis
• Neuropsychological Data
  • Executive Function
  • Memory (temporal, habitual, prospective)
  • Mood/Behavior
  • NP Characterization (raw, T scores, impairment classification)
  • Psychiatric History/Diagnosis
  • Performance based everyday Function Tests
  • Spatial cognition
  • Substance Use History/Diagnosis
  • Quality of Life
• Development of Normative Data

2. Neuromedical Core (Ronald J. Ellis, MD, PhD, Scott Letendre, MD)

The Neuromedical Core’s Clinical Unit has available techniques for structured neuromedical history taking, neurological and medical assessment and diagnostic algorithms that facilitate establishing diagnoses of central and peripheral neurological complications of HIV, with special emphasis on neurocognitive diagnoses. Investigators may choose to utilize the staff of the Neuromedical Core to perform these structured evaluations, or the Neuromedical Core may train the staff of associated projects to use these validated techniques in a reliable manner.

The Laboratory Unit processes, stores, and makes available for future research samples of plasma, PBMCs, CSF, stool and for some studies other fluids and tissues such as urine, CSF cell pellets, and buccal swabs.

The Neuromedical Core also includes Neuroimaging Portal which facilitates access to imaging experts and campus resources, specifically by making our accomplished colleague under the direction of Dr. Chris Fennema-Notestine.

Examples of Resources Available:

• Consulting
  • Training and Certification of Physicians, Nurses, Laboratory Personnel
  • Study Design
  • Data Analysis
  • Manuscript Development
• Neuropsychological Data
  • Executive Function
  • Memory (temporal, habitual, prospective)
  • Mood/Behavior
  • NP Characterization (raw, T scores, impairment classification)
  • Psychiatric History/Diagnosis
  • Performance based everyday Function Tests
  • Spatial cognition
  • Substance Use History/Diagnosis
  • Quality of Life
• Development of Normative Data

3. Microbiome Core (Rob Knight, PhD and Peter Dorrestein, PhD)

The MIBI Core applies virologic techniques to characterize neurotropism and neurovirulence in the CNS. The Core will identify the genotype of neuroadaptive HIV at varying stages of HIV associated neurological disease and determine the phenotype of this neuroadaptive genotype. The Core also aims to develop methods for investigating viral dynamics and evolution within the CNS, and to provide assistance with studies on viral co-pathogens that may infect the CNS and alter the course of neuroAIDS.

Examples of Resources Available:

• Consulting
  • Microbiome Analytic Techniques
  • Analysis of other factors affecting microbiome (e.g. genetics, diet, behavior)
  • Study Design
  • Validation of Methods

4. NeuroVirology and Biology  Core (S. Gianella, MD, C Achim, MD, PhD)

The NeuroVirology and Biology Core applies virologic techniques to characterize neurotropism and neurovirulence in the CNS. The Core will identify the genotype of neuroadaptive HIV at varying stages of HIV associated neurological disease and determine the phenotype of this neuroadaptive genotype. The Core also aims to develop methods for investigating viral dynamics and evolution within the CNS, and to provide assistance with studies on viral co-pathogens that may infect the CNS and alter the course of neuroAIDS.

Examples of Resources Available:

• Consulting
  • Neurovirologic Techniques
  • Virology Training
  • Neuropathogenesis
  • Toxic vs. Protective Factors
  • Neurogenesis and Implications for Therapeutics
  • Assay Development
  • Infrastructure Development
  • Study Design
  • Validation of Methods

Developmental Core (S Letendre, MD)

The Core has two components. The first component is a Developmental Grants Program to encourage investigators, particularly junior investigators, to explore new ideas with the rapid availability of seed grants to a maximum of $18,000 each. The Core is designed to encourage submission of proposals on topics that the HNRC COI determines to be priorities, to perform rapid review involving a combination of internal and external experts, and to mentor and assist the investigator in the implementation of his or her pilot study. Through this close mentoring interaction, every effort is made to assist the investigator to move from a pilot phase to the submission of a more mature research proposal for external funding via peer review. The second component is the New Investigator Engagement Program which encourages and monitors trainees affiliated with the HNRC who pursue research in neuroAIDS. Support in the form of access to HNRC resources, small awards to enhance skills building, and regular monitoring of progress will train pre- and postdoctoral fellows.

For more information on Developmental Grants click here.

For more information on the New Investigator Engagement Program click here.