Immune patterns in early life that shape HIV control in children born with HIV
Official title: Immune Trajectories in Early Life Impacting HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control in Perinatally Infected Children
Funded at University of Rome Tor Vergata · NIH-11470619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how the immune system develops in young children with perinatal HIV and how early immune changes relate to later viral control and responses to infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rome Tor Vergata NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rome, Italy) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,437 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI203548-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with perinatal HIV who initiated ART early and have longitudinal follow-up data, including periods of viral suppression and rebound.
✕Less likely to help
Children without perinatal HIV or those not followed longitudinally would not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
In children born with HIV, early immune development happens during a critical window. The study follows two long-term cohorts to map immune signaling and epigenetic changes that occur in the first months of life and during periods of imperfect treatment. Researchers will measure DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and HIV reservoir establishment, alongside HIV-specific immune responses from natural killer cells, monocytes, and T cells. By comparing periods of ART adherence and rebound, the project aims to understand how early events influence long-term control of the virus and susceptibility to co-infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: findings could inform timing and strategies for ART and immune-targeted therapies to improve long-term health outcomes for children with perinatal HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in HIV infection has shown that early immune events can influence later control, though this project explores a unique pediatric, early-life window and immune-imprinting in PHIV.
Where this research is happening
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University of Rome Tor Vergata
Rome, Italy Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cotugno, Nicola — University of Rome Tor Vergata
- Study coordinator: Cotugno, Nicola
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.