HIV, lead exposure, and other metals affecting children's neurodevelopment
Official title: Impact of HIV and toxic metals exposure on neurodevelopment at school age
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11571118 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how HIV exposure and metals like lead influence thinking and behavior in school-age children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $745,116 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD120114-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11571118 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 6 weeks and older who are part of the HOPE/HOPEx cohorts, including CHEU (children exposed to HIV) and CHU (unexposed) children.
✕Less likely to help
Children not in the HOPE/HOPEx cohorts or those without measured metal exposure data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze data from children born to mothers with HIV and compare them to unexposed children to see how lead and other metals affect brain development. The project adds analysis of lead in shed baby teeth to understand early exposure and uses longer gaps between tests to reduce fatigue. It also expands enrollment to include more of the original participants and adjusts reimbursements to support families’ participation. The work builds on the parent HOPE study and aims to clarify risks that could inform better care for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide interventions to reduce metal exposure impact and improve developmental support for children exposed to HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links lead exposure and HIV exposure to poorer neurodevelopment, but this study adds teeth-based exposure data for a more complete picture.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John-Stewart, Grace C. — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: John-Stewart, Grace C.
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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.