How HIV affects vaginal viruses and the risk of early birth in pregnant women in South Africa
Official title: Influence of HIV infection on vaginal virome and risk of preterm birth in pregnant South African women
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-10894802 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how HIV affects the viruses in the vagina of pregnant women in South Africa and how these changes might lead to preterm birth, with the goal of finding ways to help keep mothers and babies healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $816,376 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD106821-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10894802 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women living with HIV in South Africa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not have HIV may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of HIV infection on the vaginal virome, which refers to the community of viruses present in the vagina, and its association with preterm birth among pregnant women living with HIV in South Africa. The study aims to understand how changes in the vaginal microbiome and virome contribute to the increased risk of preterm birth, a significant health concern in this population. By analyzing samples from pregnant women, the research seeks to identify specific viral and bacterial patterns that may influence birth outcomes, ultimately aiming to develop interventions to reduce these risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing preterm births in pregnant women living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on the vaginal virome in relation to preterm birth among HIV-positive pregnant women is novel, previous research has shown that understanding microbial communities can impact health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How HIV affects vaginal viruses and preterm birth risk in pregnant South African women
This project looks at whether HIV changes the mix of viruses in the vagina and whether those changes are linked to earlier births among pregnant women in South Africa.
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How HIV-related vaginal viruses may affect early births in pregnant South African women
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A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.
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IL-9 Signaling and Immune-Driven Preterm Birth
This NIH grant supports training a physician-scientist to lead a new lab studying how immune signals, especially IL-9, affect preterm birth.
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.