Autism signs and early brain-behavior markers in children born to mothers with HIV in Kenya
The Alama Project: Autism outcomes and neurobehavioral markers in young children born to mothers with HIV in Kenya
This project looks for early signs of autism and brain-behavior markers in young children born to mothers with HIV in Kenya to help enable earlier detection and support.
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 ID | NIH-11193974 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child was born to a mother living with HIV in Kenya, researchers will check for early signs of autism and related neurobehavioral patterns using tools adapted for low-resource settings, including eye-tracking and standardized developmental tests. The team will follow young HIV-exposed but uninfected children and collect health, birth, and developmental data to look for factors linked to autism outcomes. They will compare patterns to help identify modifiable risks like birth complications or nutritional problems. The goal is to develop low-cost, scalable tools and approaches that Kenyan clinics could use to find and support children earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 0–11 who were born to mothers living with HIV but who are themselves HIV-uninfected, with families willing to participate at Kenyan study sites, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children who are HIV-infected, outside the 0–11 age range, or living outside the Kenyan study areas may not be eligible or directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier, low-cost detection of autism and guide targeted supports for HIV-exposed children in Kenya and similar settings.
How similar studies have performed: Small studies in high-income countries have suggested higher autism rates among HIV-exposed uninfected children and have used eye-tracking successfully, but this approach has not been widely tested in Africa.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcnally Keehn, Rebecca — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Mcnally Keehn, Rebecca
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 below.