Safer PrEP dosing for pregnant women in sub‑Saharan Africa
Official title: Optimizing PrEP regimens for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11512886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if higher daily doses of the HIV prevention pill FTC/TDF during pregnancy help women in sub‑Saharan Africa maintain stronger protection from HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $28,913 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI157859-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11512886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant women in their second trimester (about 14–24 weeks), at risk for HIV, who can take daily oral PrEP and attend follow‑up visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are already HIV‑positive, not pregnant, or unwilling/unable to take daily pills and complete follow‑up visits are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If I join, I would be randomly placed on one of three daily pill doses of FTC/TDF during pregnancy. I would take two 14‑day pill cycles in the second and third trimesters with detailed blood sampling over 24 hours to measure drug levels inside immune cells. At about 12 weeks after delivery I would take the standard dose again so researchers can compare pregnancy and postpartum drug levels. The team will also watch for any side effects for me and my baby.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to dosing guidelines that give pregnant women better protection against HIV during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How similar studies have gone: Standard FTC/TDF PrEP is effective in nonpregnant people and prior work shows pregnancy lowers tenofovir levels, but testing higher doses specifically in pregnancy is a relatively new approach with limited direct clinical evidence.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chi, Benjamin H. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Chi, Benjamin H.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving PrEP outcomes for pregnant women in Botswana with integrated STI testing and PrEP delivery
A study in Botswana aims to help pregnant and postpartum women use HIV prevention methods more effectively by mixing STI testing with choices like oral PrEP and the dapivirine vaginal ring.
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Better HIV prevention pills for pregnant women in sub‑Saharan Africa
Compares standard and higher daily PrEP pill doses to find the safest, most protective option for pregnant women in sub‑Saharan Africa.
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HIV prevention for pregnant and postpartum women in Botswana using STI testing and PrEP options
This project offers STI testing plus two HIV prevention choices—daily oral PrEP pills and a dapivirine vaginal ring—to help pregnant and postpartum women in Botswana avoid HIV.
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Finding the best PrEP doses for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa
This study is looking at the best way to give HIV prevention medication to pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa to help keep them safe from HIV, and it will involve trying different doses during their pregnancy and checking how well it works and how safe it is afterward.
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Improving HIV prevention for pregnant women in Botswana
This study is looking at ways to help pregnant women in Botswana use HIV prevention methods more easily, by combining STI testing with PrEP services during their check-ups, so they can stay healthy and protect their babies.
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mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
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.