Sabyasachi Sen, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recently received a 2018 DC Center for AIDS Research Pilot Award for his study titled “What Is the Impact of Current HIV Medication Regimens on Endothelial Dysfunction?”
Sen will examine blood-derived cells called endothelial progenitor cells as a way to study endothelium, the innermost lining of blood vessels that controls blood pressure. High blood pressure is associated with many serious health issues such as heart and kidney disease. The study will look at whether the presence of newer classes of HIV medication, such as integrase inhibitors and entry inhibitors, improves endothelial cell health more than older classes of medications. The Pilot Awards Program is a competitive program that provides pilot funds to HIV/AIDS investigators to assist them in the development of their NIH-funded research careers. This program is designed to encourage novel research by early-stage investigators and established investigators in other fields who wish to transition into HIV/AIDS research.
