Rutgers Gets $3.6M Grant to Study Older Adults With HIV
The National Institutes of Health grant will fund research into heart, diabetes, and kidney disease risks among adults 50 and older living with the virus.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Senior Health
Rutgers University researchers have received a $3.6 million federal grant from the National Institutes of Health to study chronic health conditions in adults ages 50 and older living with HIV. The project focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic health, including heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease risks.
Why it matters
Older adults with HIV are often underrepresented in clinical trials, and evidence on which treatments work best for them remains limited. The findings could help patients, caregivers, and health care professionals make more informed treatment decisions.
The study will analyze Medicare records covering more than 45,000 older adults with HIV, alongside large Medicaid and private insurance databases. Results on treatment effectiveness in everyday practice have not yet been reported.
The players
Rutgers University
A public research university based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the home institution of the study team.
National Institutes of Health
The federal agency that awarded the $3.6 million grant funding the study.
National Institute on Aging
The NIH institute that supports the study and focuses on the health of older adults.
The details
Researchers will identify patients who receive recommended treatments and assess how medications perform in everyday practice. The work is led by principal investigator Chintan Dave, with fellow principal investigator Stephanie Shiau, and is supported by the National Institute on Aging.
Timeline
The Rutgers grant announcement was published on November 2, 2026.
Health Landscape
The study extends research supported by the National Institute on Aging into a growing population of older adults living with HIV. As antiretroviral treatment has allowed people with the virus to live longer, age-related conditions such as heart disease and kidney disease have become a more pressing concern.
Patients aged 50 and older living with HIV may eventually benefit from treatment guidance tailored to heart, diabetes, and kidney risks. Until results are published, current treatment decisions remain unchanged.
The takeaway
Long-term HIV care increasingly means managing age-related conditions alongside the virus itself. Patients and caregivers should discuss heart, diabetes, and kidney screening with their clinicians.
Further reading
Explore more on Senior Health to see how aging and chronic conditions affect older adults.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRNJ Radio.
