Blood stem cell health in babies born to HIV-positive mothers on treatment
Deciphering hematopoietic stem cell defects in HIV exposed, uninfected infants born to ART-treated mothers
This project looks at whether babies born to HIV-positive, ART-treated mothers but not infected themselves have changes in their blood stem cells that might make infections more likely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323169 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective as a parent, researchers will compare newborns and infants born to HIV-positive mothers on antiretroviral therapy with babies not exposed to HIV to see if their blood stem cells work differently. They will collect blood or cord blood samples and run lab tests to examine stem cell function and molecular signals that control blood and immune cell production. The team may follow infants early in life to link any stem cell differences to rates of respiratory or bacterial infections. Findings aim to explain why HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants face higher early-life infection risk and point to better monitoring or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are newborns and young infants born to HIV-positive mothers who are on antiretroviral therapy but who test negative for HIV (HEU infants).
Not a fit: Infants who were not exposed to HIV in utero, adults, or children living with HIV are unlikely to be eligible or directly helped by this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal blood stem cell changes that explain increased infection risk in HEU infants and guide improved monitoring or interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown blood and bone marrow problems in people living with HIV, but direct study of hematopoietic stem cells in HIV-exposed uninfected infants is limited and this approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rathinam, Chozha Vendan — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Rathinam, Chozha Vendan
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.