Data tools to spot health risks and guide care for children with HIV
Official title: DSpace: Utilizing Data Science to Predict and Improve Health Outcomes in Pediatric HIV
Funded at University of Botswana · NIH-11168815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses data and AI to spot which children and teens with HIV are more likely to develop metabolic problems or tuberculosis so care can be improved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Botswana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gaborone, Botswana) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $171,714 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD114479-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents living with HIV (roughly newborns through young adults under 21) receiving care at participating clinics in Botswana or similar sub-Saharan African settings would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, adults outside the study age range, or patients not seen at participating clinics are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If my child joins, researchers will collect clinical information like symptoms, lab tests, treatment history, and any available samples from children and teens with HIV and use computer models to find patterns linked to metabolic syndrome and TB. They will adapt data-science tools that have been used in adults to local pediatric data from Botswana and other sites in sub-Saharan Africa, then test how well those tools identify disease and risk. The team will compare model findings with clinic follow-up and diagnostic information to confirm results. The goal is to create practical tools doctors can use locally to spot problems earlier and personalize care for children with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help clinicians detect tuberculosis and metabolic complications earlier in children with HIV and reduce illness and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Related AI and data-driven approaches have shown promise for TB and metabolic risk in adult Western populations, but they have not been widely tested or validated in African children, making this adaptation and local testing novel.
Where this research is happening
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University of Botswana
Gaborone, Botswana Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Retshabile, Gaone — University of Botswana
- Study coordinator: Retshabile, Gaone
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.