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Pilot Program

The Penn Mental Health AIDS Research Center (PMHARC) Developmental Award Program

About our Pilot Projects Program

The Developmental Core (Core B) of the Penn Mental Health AIDS Research Center (PMHARC) promotes the Center’s integrated research infrastructure  to stimulate new research and support investigators as they design and implement innovative biological and behavioral studies on the promotion of mental health and treatment of mental illness among individuals with HIV or at increased risk for HIV acquisition, in part through the funding of short term (one-year) pilot projects.  The particular focus of Core B is on the development of early-stage investigators, transitional investigators and collaborations that have the capacity to develop and test innovative, integrated treatments to optimize psychiatric, behavioral, and medical outcomes and to achieve a better understanding of the biological, psychological, and behavioral mechanisms underlying these combined illnesses and treatments. 


Concordant with the mission of the PMHARC, pilot funds will support: 1) new faculty members or early stage investigators who are beginning their research careers in mental health and HIV research; 2) investigators with established research programs who are transitioning to HIV and mental health research; and 3) established HIV investigators who have not directed their research at issues of psychiatric disorder or the treatment of mental illness.

Additional information:

Pilot concepts are expected to be responsive to the research priorities of the:

•    Penn Mental Health AIDS Research Center http://www.med.upenn.edu/pmharc

•    AIDS Program of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/dar/index.shtml

•    NIH Office of AIDS Research https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-137.html

•    National Initiative to End the HIV Epidemic by 2030 https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview

Studies involving human subjects may utilize clinical and lab assessments overseen by the Clinical Assessment Core and the Laboratory and Biobehavioral Markers Core.  

For further information, please contact Chelsea Voytek, MPH at chelseav@pennmedicine.upenn.edu and Lily Brown, PhD, Director of Developmental Core at lilybr@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Funded Pilots

  • TOPIC: Interactions between HIV, Oral Microbiome, Epigenetics and Mental/Neurocognitive Impairment (InHOME)
    Investigators: Modupe Coker, PhD, MPH, BDS (Penn Dental Medicine), Temitope Omolehinwa, DMD, DScD (Penn Dental Medicine), Stephanie Shiau, PhD, MPH (Rutgers School of Public Health)
  • TOPIC: Psychiatric symptoms and engagement in care in people with opioid use disorder who inject drugs
    Investigators: Cécile Denis, PhD, MSc (Psychiatry), Nabilla El-Bassel, PhD, DSW (Columbia School of Social Work), Steven Shoptaw, PhD (UCLA Family Medicine and Psychiatry), David S. Metzger, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Feasibility and acceptability of cognitive control training to reduce suicide risk for adults living with HIV
    Investigators: Marin Kautz, PhD, MA (Psychiatry), Mary Beth Gibbons, PhD, MA (Psychiatry), Lily Brown, PhD (Psychiatry), Keith Bredemeier, PhD (University of Delaware Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
  • TOPIC: Understanding Cognition and Mental Health in Older Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
    Investigators: Shana Stites, PsyD, MA, MS (Psychiatry), Dennis Kolson, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)

 

  • TOPIC: The Role of PERK Haplotypes in Periodontal Inflammation and Depression in Patients with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy 
    Investigators: Temitope Omolehinwa, DScD, DMD (Penn Dental Medicine), Afnan Khalifah, BDS, DScD Candidate (Penn Dental Medicine), Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD (Penn Dental Medicine), Cagla Akay-Espinoza, MD (Penn Dental Medicine), Serguei Spitsin, PhD, MS (Penn Dental Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Implementing Collaborative Care for People with HIV, Opioid Use Disorder, and a Psychiatric Disorder
    Investigators: David Mandell, ScD (Psychiatry), J. Deanna Wilson, MD, MPH (Family Medicine and Community Health), and Courtney Benjamin Wolk, PhD.
  • TOPIC: Enhancing HIV Prevention Strategies for Black Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
    Investigators: Arianne Morrison, MD (Penn Medicine), Florence Momplaisir, MD, MSHP (Penn Medicine), John B. Jemmott III, PhD (Annenberg and Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Understanding Psychosocial and Behavioral Constructs Related to PrEP Interest 
    Investigators: Stephen Bonnett, PhD, MA, RN (Nursing), Ari Gzesh, MSW, PhD Candidate (Social Policy and Practice), Sarah Wood, MD, MS (Penn Medicine and CHOP), Scott Jelinek, MD, MPH, MAEd (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Understanding culturally responsive mental health treatment for communities living with HIV
    Investigators: Amber Calloway, PhD, MA (Psychiatry), Lily Brown, PhD, MA (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Association between retention in care, psychiatric comorbidities, and outcomes of care in US Veterans with HIV infection  
    Investigators: Ravishankar Jayadevappa, PhD, MS (Penn Medicine), Sumedha Chhatre, PhD, MS (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Describing factors affecting the Integration of depression and tobacco use treatment for people with HIV receiving TB care services in Botswana  
    Investigators: Bogadi Loabile, MD, MPH (Penn Medicine), Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine), Robert Schnoll, PhD (Psychiatry), Frances Barg, PhD,MEd (Family Medicine and Community Health), Billy Tsima MMed, MSCE (University of Botswana), Botshelo Kgwaadira MD, MSCE (Botswana-University of Maryland School of Medicine Health Initiative)
  • TOPIC: Exploring Adolescents’ Preferences for the Delivery of Mental Health Services in Primary Health Care Facilities in South Africa
    Investigators: Andrew Medina-Marino, PhD, MPH, MS (Psychiatry), Ernesha Webb Mazinyo, DPA, MPH (Desmond Tutu Health Foundation)
  • TOPIC: The role of inflammation in the association between oral and mental health among patients living with HIV
    Investigators: Temitope Omolehinwa, DMD, DScD (Penn Dental Medicine), Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD (Penn Dental Medicine), Cagla Akay-Espinoza MD (Penn Dental Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Developing a Machine Learning Method to Increase HIV/HCV Prevention and Care and Substance Use Treatment in People Who Inject Drugs
    Investigators:     Dolores Albarracín, PhD, MA (Annenberg), Man Pui Sally Chan, PhD (Annenberg)

  • TOPIC: Assessing and reducing suicide risk among individuals with an opioid use disorder who are at high risk for HIV: A pilot, open-trial feasibility study
    Investigators:     Lily Brown, PhD (Psychiatry), Michael Blank, PhD (Psychiatry)

  • TOPIC: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on HIV and HCV Epidemiology Among Individuals Who Inject Drugs
    Investigators:     Bita Fayaz Farkhad, PhD (Annenberg), Dolores Albarracín, PhD, MA (Annenberg)

  • TOPIC: Awareness, attitudes, and capacity for patient outreach in cure-related research among HIV care providers in Philadelphia
    Investigators:     Steven Meanley, PhD, MPH (Nursing)

  • TOPIC: Characterization of rhesus macaque frontal cortex and basal ganglia cell type-specific transcriptomes in a post-SIV infection time course
    Investigators:     Benjamin Reiner, PhD (Psychiatry), Matthew Hayes, PhD (Psychiatry), Dennis Kolson, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Neuropsychiatric complications of COVID19 in HIV: A clinical and 7T MRI Pilot Study
    Investigators:     Matthew Schindler, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine), Dennis Kolson, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Mobile Service Delivery in Response to the Opioid and HIV Epidemics in Philadelphia
    Investigators:     Rebecca Stewart, PhD, MA (Psychiatry), Margaret Lowenstein, MD, MPhil, MSHP (Penn Medicine)

     

  • TOPIC: The Role of PrEP -Related Stigma In PrEP Persistence among Young People
    Investigators:     Dovie Watson, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine), José Bauermeister, PhD, MPH (Nursing), Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Integration of Medication-Assisted Treatment and HIV Prevention Strategies Among Publicly-Insured Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Opioid Use Disorders in Philadelphia
    Investigators:     Maria Christina Herrera, MD (CHOP) and Nadia Dowshen, MD, MSHP (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Immune dysregulation and neurodegeneration in adolescent SIV infection: radiographic and neuropathologic correlates 
    Investigators:     Jennifer McGuire MD MSCE (CHOP), Judith Grinspan, PhD (CHOP), Steven Douglas, MD (CHOP), Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD (School of Dental Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Identification of molecular signature of HIV infected cells in CNS using single cell multi-omics technology 
    Investigators:     Yijing Su, PhD (Neuroscience) and Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD (School of Dental Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, and HIV Care Re-engagement among People Living with HIV Involved in the Criminal Justice System 
    Investigators:     Daniel Teixeira da Silva, MD (Penn Medicine), José Bauermeister, PhD, MPH (Nursing), Christina Kang-Yi, PhD (Penn Medicine), David Mandell, ScD (Psychiatry), Bruce Herdman, PhD, MBA (Philadelphia Department of Prisons), Evan Anderson, JD, PhD (Nursing and Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Understanding Participant Experience in the BEAT-HIV PEG-IFN +/- Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Clinical Trial
    Investigators:     Fran Barg, PhD, MEd (Family Medicine and Community Health), Katharine Rendle, PhD (Family Medicine and Community Health)
  • TOPIC: Exploring the role of working memory difficulties in repetitive negative thinking, anxiety and depression, and medication adherence in HIV-positive adults
    Investigators:     Keith Bredemeier, PhD (Psychiatry) and J. Cobb Scott, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Use of Perceptual Mapping to Produce a PrEP Communication Strategy for Young People 
    Investigators:     Marné Castillo, PhD, Med (CHOP), Sarah Bauerle Bass, PhD, MPH (Temple University College of Public Health), Sarah Wood, MD (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Supporting PrEP Initiation and Mental Health Screening in Community Care Settings with Automated, Proactive Text Messaging 
    Investigators:     Krisda Chaiyachati, MD, MPH, MSHP (Penn Medicine), Helen Koenig, MD, MPH (Penn Medicine), Natalie Lee, MD, MPH (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Computational design of novel antagonists for the Neurokinin-1 receptor 
    Investigators:     Cesar de la Fuente, PhD, MSc (Psychiatry, Bioengineering, Microbiology), Steven D. Douglas, MD (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Clinic Communication About PrEP: HIV Prevention Among Women
    Investigators:     Jessica Fishman, PhD (Annenberg School of Communication and Psychiatry), David Mandell, ScD (Psychiatry), Sarita Sonalkar, MD, MPH (Penn Medicine), Helen Koenig, MD, MPH (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Neural correlates of neurocognition associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy 
    Investigators    : Paul Regier, PhD (Psychiatry), Anne M. Teitelman, PhD, CRNP (Nursing), Anna Rose Childress, PhD, MA (Psychiatry), Hasan Ayaz, PhD, MS (Drexel University School of Biomedical Engineering)

  • TOPIC: Differences in nicotine metabolism in HIV positive individuals on antiretroviral therapy
    Investigators:     Cedric Bien-Gund, MD (Penn Medicine) and Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Burden of Chronic conditions among persons with comorbid HIV/AIDS and mental illness 
    Investigators:     Sumedha Chhatre, PhD (Psychiatry) and George Woody, MD (Psychiatry)

  • TOPIC: Exploring the relationship between gut microbiome alterations, posttraumatic stress disorder, and viral load suppression in HIV+ individuals
    Investigators:     Sara Kornfield, PhD (Psychiatry) and Brendan Kelly, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Cellular biomarkers of innate immunity in peripheral blood leukocytes of adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder 
    Investigators:     Tami Benton, MD (CHOP) and Sergei Spitsin, PhD (CHOP)

  • TOPIC: Using Natural Language Processing to Identify Depression in Patients with HIV
    Investigators:     Lyle Ungar, PhD (CHOP) Paul Crits-Cristoph (Psychiatry), and Brenda Curtis, PhD, MsPH (NIH)

     

  • TOPIC: Expanding an adapted adolescent friendship bench to explore substance use in youth living with HIV and Youth At Risk for HIV acquisition
    Investigators:     Merrian Brooks, DO, MS (CHOP) and Elizabeth Lowenthal, MD, MSCE (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Depression as a determinant factor to immune cell activation and HIV infection in persons who inject drugs
    Investigators:     Krystal Colón-Rivera, PhD (Wistar Institute) and Luis Montaner, DVM, PhD (Wistar Institute)
  • TOPIC: Understanding the significance of cardiac arrhythmias detected by continuous, non-invasive monitoring in HIV infected smokers
    Investigators:     Rajat Deo, MD, MTR (Penn Medicine) and Rebecca Ashare, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: HIV/AIDS knowledge, risks, and stigma among people with mental disorders in rural China
    Investigators:     Yin-Ling Irene Wong, PhD, MA (Penn Social Policy and Practice and Psychiatry)

  • TOPIC: Sex Differences in Synaptophagy of Human Neurons by HIV-Exposed Human Microglia
    Investigators:     Stewart Anderson, MD (CHOP), Kelly Jordan-Sciutto, PhD (Dental Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors in Patients with Concomitant HIV and Chronic pain
    Investigators:     Martin D. Cheatle, PhD (Psychiatry), Cecile Denis, PhD (Psychiatry), and Michelle Naps, MD (Veterans Administration)  

  • TOPIC: Adipose inflammation in lipodystrophy and metabolic dysfunction 
    Investigators:     David A. Hill, MD, PhD (CHOP), Mitchell A. Lazar, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)

  • TOPIC: Depression and Social Support Along the PrEP Care Continuum
    Investigators:     Sarah Wood, MD (CHOP), Ian Frank, MD (Penn Medicine)

     

  • TOPIC: Repurposing Metformin to Attenuate Nicotine Withdrawal among HIV-infected Smokers 
    Investigators:     Rebecca Ashare, PhD (Psychiatry) Robert Schnoll, PhD (Psychiatry) Caryn Lerman, PhD (Psychiatry) Frank Leone, MD (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: NS2359 in HAND
    Investigators:     Wade Berrettini, MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Nicotinic receptor mechanisms in HIV-associated depression 
    Investigators:     Mariella De Biasi, PhD (Psychiatry) Dennis Kolson, MD, PhD (Neurology)
  • TOPIC: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk in HIV positive psychiatric patients in Botswana
    Investigators:      Billy Tsima, MBBCh (University of Botswana, Family Medicine), Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine), Mosepele Mosepele, MBBCh (University of Botswana, Medicine) Philip Opondo, MBCHB, MMed (University of Botswana, Psychiatry) Warren Bilker, PhD (Penn Biostatistics and Epidemiology))
  • TOPIC: Brain and behavioral impact of safe sex public service announcements on HIV infected adolescents 
    Investigators:     An-Li Wang, DPhil (Psychiatry), Elizabeth Lowenthal, MD, MSCE (Penn Biostatistics and Epidemiology and Pediatrics, CHOP) Helen Koenig, MD (Penn Medicine)

 

  • TOPIC: Understanding Causal Pathways Between SMI Symptoms and HIV Risk Behaviors
    Investigators:     Fran Barg, PhD, MEd (Family Medicine and Community Health), Puneet Sahota, MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Motivational Anhedonia as a Target of Intervention for HIV+ Individuals with Schizophrenia or Depression 
    Investigators:     Mary Beth Gibbons, PhD (Psychiatry), Paul Crits-Christoph, PhD (Psychiatry), Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: HIV Related Outcomes and Psychosocial Risk Factors for Depression Among HIV+ Pregnant Women in Philadelphia 
    Investigators:     John B. Jemmott III, PhD (Annenberg School of Communication and Psychiatry), Florence Momplaisir, MD, MSHP (Temple University Infectious Disease); Kathleen Brady, MD (Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Pamela Geller, PhD (Psychology and Public Health OB/GYN), Emily Anderson, BS (Student MPH)
  • TOPIC: Neuroinflammation and Dysregulation of the Antioxidant Response in HIV+ Individuals with Depression 
    Investigators:     Dennis L. Kolson, MD, PhD (Neurology), Stephanie A. Cross, MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Developing and Validating Culture-Specific Measures of Stigma of HIV and Mental Illness in Botswana and the United States
    Investigators:     Philip Opondo, MBCHB (University of Botswana, Psychiatry), Ari Ho-Foster, MSc (Medicine), Morekwe Selemogwe, PhD (University of Botswana, Psychology), Seipone Mphele, PhD (University of Botswana, Psychology), Lawrence Yang, PhD (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health), Michael Blank, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Prevalence and Type of Psychiatric Diagnoses Among Hospitalized Patients with HIV Infection 
    Investigators:     Sabrina A. Poole, Psy.D (Psychiatry), George Woody, MD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: A Brief Computerized Battery for Assessing HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders: Validation and Relation to Plasma Biomarkers 
    Investigators:     J. Cobb Scott, PhD (Psychiatry) Ruben C. Gur, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Metabolomics and Lipidomics Analysis of Blood Metabolites from HIV+ Patients Treated for Insomnia with Comorbid Depression 
    Investigators:     Aalim Weljie, PhD (Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics), Matt Kayser, MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Stress Reduction Training to Target Psychological and Pathophysiological Mechanisms Implicated in HIV, Depression, and Co-Morbid Inflammatory Conditions 
    Investigators:     Jeffrey M. Greeson, PhD (Psychiatry), Michael Thase, MD (Psychiatry)

 

  • TOPIC: CSF and Plasma sCD163, FABP3 and sIR as Biomarkers of Neuropsychiatric Impairment in HIV-Seropositive Women 
    Investigators:     Steven Arnold, MD (Psychiatry), Valerie E. Wojna, MD (Neurology, University of Puerto Rico), Steven D. Douglas, MD (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Does the Severity of Substance Use Disorders Affect Neurocognitive Functioning of HIV+ Patients? 
    Investigators:     Donna Coviello, PhD (Psychiatry), George Woody, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Barriers to Engagement and Retention in Care among HIV+ Youth with Psychiatric Co-Morbidities
    Investigators:     Nadia L. Dowshen, MD (CHOP), Frances K. Barg, PhD, MEd (Family Medicine and Community Health), Marne Castillo, PhD, MEd (CHOP), Benoit Dubé, MD (Psychiatry), Linda A. Hawkins, PhD (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: The Impact of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on HIV care Retention
    Investigators:     Carmen McLean, PhD (Psychiatry), Edna Foa, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: A Pilot study of Lifestyle Modification for Weight Loss in Persons with Obesity, HIV/AIDS and Major Depression
    Investigators:     David Sarwer, PhD (Psychiatry), Lucy Hemsley-Faulconbridge, PhD (Psychiatry), Rexford S. Ahima, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine)
  • TOPIC: Computer-Assisted Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depressed, HIV+ People Taking Antiviral Medications 
    Investigators:     Michael Thase, MD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Mid-Life Cognitive Function in HIV+ Individuals: Impact of Endocrine and Immune Status
    Investigators:     C. Neill Epperson, MD (Psychiatry), Liisa Hantsoo, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Treatment of Insomnia with Zaleplon in HIV Positive Patients with Comorbid Depression 
    Investigators:     Matthew Kayser, MD, PhD (Psychiatry), Michael Thase, MD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: The Impact of Personal Relevance and Depression on Brain and Behavioral Effects of HIV Prevention PSAs in HIV-Positive MSM 
    Investigators:     Daniel Langleben, MD (Psychiatry), An-Li Wang, DPhil (Annenberg)
  • TOPIC: Predictors of HIV-Associated Psychiatric Distress and Neurocognitive Decline in a Pediatric Sample 
    Investigators:     Iman Martin, PHD, MPH, MSc (Psychiatry), Ruben Gur, PhD (Psychiatry), Raquel Gur, MD, PhD (Psychiatry)
  • TOPIC: Immune and Neuroimaging Biomarker Correlations between Depression and HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders in HIV-Infected Youth 
    Investigators:     Jennifer McGuire, MD (CHOP), Brenda Banwell, MD (CHOP), Tami Benton, MD (CHOP), Linda Hawkins, PhD, LPC (CHOP)
  • TOPIC: Evaluation of the HIV Treatment Cascade for HIV-Infected Persons with Mental Illness 
    Investigators:     Baligh Yehia, MD, MPP, MSHP (Penn Medicine), Kathleen Brady, MD (Philadelphia Department of Public Health), Benoit Dube, MD (Psychiatry), Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH (Epidemiology and Nursing), Robert Gross, MD, MSCE (Penn Medicine)

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