Immune Activation and Neurodegeneration in HIV Infection and Heavy Drinking

项目摘要

PROJECT ABSTRACT This administrative supplement is submitted in response to NOT-OD-21-052 on “Requesting Extensions for Early Career Scientists Whose Career Trajectories Have Been Significantly Impacted by COVID-19.” Dr. Mollie Monnig’s K23 award was nearing the end of Year 4 in March 2020 when the COVID pandemic caused a nationwide shutdown. Prior to the shutdown, research and training activities were on track for timely completion. However, negative impacts of COVID have delayed the completion of research projects and training goals. The first major impact was disruption of laboratory alcohol research from March 2020-January 2021. The K23 study is an intensive lab experiment that must be conducted in person due to controlled alcohol administration and collection of biospecimens (breath, blood, saliva, and urine samples). The study cannot be adapted to remote administration in a safe or meaningful way. Resumption of data collection required creation of new safety protocols and extensive adaptation of in-person procedures (e.g., blood collection, cognitive testing, alcohol administration) to follow social distancing and biosafety guidelines. Employment contracts with research staff were honored, yet staff were not able to complete primary research duties for which they were hired. Payment of research staff during lab downtime significantly diminished the funds now available to complete data collection and to perform biomarker assays on Aim 4 outcomes. Some supplies (e.g., vacutainers) were expired and had to be disposed of. In addition to lab downtime, the PI Dr. Monnig was unable to engage fully in career development activities such as networking, grantwriting, research dissemination, and didactics due to the need to care for her two young children (under 3 years of age) at home. Dr. Monnig’s family lost access to childcare for 5 months in 2020 due to the pandemic. Thus, funds are requested to offset expenses for loss of RA effort, supplies, and PI effort. The proposed extension will allow Dr. Monnig to fully achieve K23 aims by completing data collection and analysis. Although Dr. Monnig submitted two R01 proposals while under lockdown in March and July of 2020, inability to finish K23 research on the original timeline weakened these proposals due to incomplete preliminary data. Similarly, although Dr. Monnig has published or submitted primary papers for Aims 1 and 2, research barriers and lack of childcare delayed the primary publications for Aims 3 and 4. There is clear evidence that women and junior scientists have been more severely affected by negative impacts of COVID on research, especially when they have major caregiving responsibilities.1-4 In sum, the proposed extension will support Dr. Monnig’s transition to independent investigator via completion of K23 aims, as well as key career development activities (collaborations, funding applications, publications, and networking). Dr. Monnig’s primary mentor, Dr. Peter Monti, and secondary mentor, Dr. Ronald Cohen, are very committed to the successful completion of the K23 award and will remain highly involved in Dr. Monnig’s career development, training, and research activities.