Investigating the mental health outcomes of children exposed to HIV

HEU outcomes: population-evaluation and screening strategies (HOPE)

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-10857190

This study is looking at children in sub-Saharan Africa who were exposed to HIV before birth but are not infected, to see how this exposure affects their mental health and development as they grow up, and it will compare them to other children who weren't exposed to HIV at all.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-10857190 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa who are HIV exposed but uninfected (HEU). It aims to understand the long-term mental health and neurodevelopmental outcomes of these individuals, particularly in relation to their fetal exposure to HIV and antiretroviral treatments. The study will involve tracking a large cohort of 2000 HEU and HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants and children over several years, using validated assessment tools to evaluate their development and mental health. By comparing these groups, the research seeks to identify any significant differences in outcomes that may arise from HIV exposure.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 6 weeks to 18 years who are HIV exposed but uninfected.

Not a fit: Patients who are not exposed to HIV or are older than 18 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved monitoring and intervention strategies for the mental health of children exposed to HIV.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the impacts of maternal infections on child development, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.