Improving HIV and TB medicines for young children
Mind the gaps: Pharmacokinetic research to advance pediatric HIV/TB cotreatment and TB prevention
This project measures how the HIV drug dolutegravir and common TB medicines act in young children's bodies so doctors can find safe, effective doses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11384199 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has HIV, the team will collect blood samples and monitor how dolutegravir interacts with TB treatments, including standard and high-dose rifampicin and weekly rifapentine/isoniazid used to prevent TB. They will run two prospective pharmacokinetic studies focused on children, especially those under 6 years, looking at twice-daily dolutegravir during rifampicin treatment and dolutegravir levels during weekly rifapentine/isoniazid for TB prevention. Researchers will track drug levels, side effects, and treatment completion to understand dosing and safety. The goal is to provide clear dosing information so clinicians can use these regimens safely in young children with HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young children (particularly under 6 years) living with HIV who need TB treatment or TB preventive therapy and whose caregivers agree to blood tests and clinic follow-up are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults, children without HIV, children on HIV regimens that do not include dolutegravir, or those unwilling to undergo blood sampling would not be eligible or likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: May provide dosing and safety data that allow safer, more effective HIV and TB treatment and prevention for young children, potentially reducing TB-related deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Adult and older-child research supports high-dose rifampicin and short-course TB prevention, but combining double-dose dolutegravir with rifampicin in children under six and using weekly rifapentine with dolutegravir in children is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rawizza, Holly Elizabeth — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Rawizza, Holly Elizabeth
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.