Role of human milk components on metabolic health in breastfeeding children of mothers with HIV
Official title: Investigating the role of the human milk metabolome and microRNAs on metabolic health in breastfeeding children with and without perinatal HIV exposure
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11328374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how breast milk from mothers with HIV and ART exposure may affect the metabolic health and growth of their breastfeeding children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,453,772 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD121455-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11328374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Breastfeeding infants whose mothers are living with HIV and on ART, with data available from the ORCHID cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Results may be less directly applicable to non-breastfed infants or to populations without HIV exposure.
What this research studies
This project will examine how maternal HIV/ART exposure shapes the tiny bioactive packages in human milk, including extracellular vesicles, miRNAs, and metabolites. Researchers will connect these milk components with child growth and body composition, using data from an Africa-based pregnancy cohort and follow-up into infancy. The study combines advanced lab analysis of milk with measurements of child growth to identify potential links between exposure and later metabolic risk. By focusing on real-world breastfed infants in settings affected by HIV, the work aims to inform safer feeding practices and long-term health monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide nutrition and monitoring strategies to support healthier growth and metabolic outcomes in children exposed to HIV/ART.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests breast milk composition can influence infant health, but this project explores HM EVs and miRNAs in the specific HIV/ART exposure context, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jao, Jennifer — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Jao, Jennifer
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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.