Autism outcomes and neurobehavioral markers in HIV-exposed but uninfected children in Kenya
Official title: The Alama Project: Autism outcomes and neurobehavioral markers in young children born to mothers with HIV in Kenya
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11474072 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows young children who were exposed to HIV but not infected to understand autism risk and find simple, scalable ways to detect it early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $266,626 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD116441-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11474072 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 0-11 years who were HIV-exposed but uninfected and their families, especially in resource-limited settings.
✕Less likely to help
Children without HIV exposure or without autism risk factors may not directly benefit from the specific biomarkers and screening tools studied.
What this research studies
If you have or care for a child who was born to a mother with HIV, this study will follow CHEU children over time to see how autism-related behaviors emerge and how eye-tracking and other markers might help spot autism early. Researchers will use a longitudinal cohort to compare CHEU with peers, looking at biological and environmental factors that could influence autism outcomes. The goal is to identify biomarkers and practical screening tools that work in low-resource settings, including the United States and Africa. The study could pave the way for earlier diagnosis and targeted interventions for children who were HIV-exposed but uninfected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could enable earlier autism detection and more accessible screening options for CHEU worldwide.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small studies in high-income countries suggest higher autism prevalence in CHEU, but large, well-characterized cohorts are needed; this study builds on observational signals to test biomarkers.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcnally Keehn, Rebecca — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Mcnally Keehn, Rebecca
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.