Tiny dissolving skin patch that delivers protective antibodies to breastfed babies
Official title: Advancing Multi-bNAbs Microneedle Patch Technology For HIV-1 Prevention in Breastfeeding Infants.
Funded at Old Dominion University · NIH-11179478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A painless microneedle patch that delivers HIV-blocking antibodies to help protect infants who are breastfed by mothers with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Old Dominion University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Norfolk, United States) |
| Project start | August 29, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $789,773 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI186784-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The ideal candidates would be newborns and young infants who are being breastfed by mothers living with HIV or whose mothers have unknown or untreated HIV status.
✕Less likely to help
Infants already living with HIV, older children or adults not exposed via breastfeeding, or babies with skin conditions that prevent patch use are unlikely to benefit from this prevention approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing a small, dissolvable microneedle patch that releases broadly neutralizing antibodies through a baby’s skin to block HIV exposure during breastfeeding. The team is working to stabilize the antibodies so they do not need refrigeration and can be stored and used in low-resource settings. Lab and safety tests will optimize dosing, patch design, and how long protection lasts, with the goal of moving toward testing in people. The patch is meant to be easy to give, reduce injections, and improve protection when mothers are untreated or have difficulty with daily medicines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safe, easy-to-use way to prevent HIV in breastfed infants, especially where pills, injections, or cold storage are hard to access.
How similar studies have gone: Broadly neutralizing antibodies have shown protective effects in clinical research and microneedle patches have been promising in early studies, but combining stabilized bnAbs in a patch for breastfed infants is a new approach still under development.
Where this research is happening
-
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doncel, Gustavo F. — Old Dominion University
- Study coordinator: Doncel, Gustavo F.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
CAB-LA PrEP for breastfeeding women after delivery in Botswana
This study tests a long-acting HIV prevention shot for new mothers who are breastfeeding in Botswana to see if it prevents HIV safely and effectively.
-
Breastfeeding Education Support Tool for Baby
A community-based program in India trains mothers with peer counselors and a mobile app to support exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and promote healthy growth and development.
-
Promoting Breastfeeding to Prevent Postpartum Smoking Relapse
A trial tests whether encouraging new mothers to breastfeed helps prevent them from starting to smoke again after giving birth.
-
Breastfeeding support to reduce obesity risk in children
A family-based program helps new Hispanic mothers in the WIC program breastfeed more and give babies a healthier start to prevent obesity and diabetes later.
-
Transdermal HIV prevention for breastfeeding infants using bnAbs on a patch
A child-focused HIV prevention approach uses a patch to deliver protective antibodies through the skin to babies who are breastfed.
-
Breastfeeding, Microbiome, and Early-Life Respiratory Health
A study to see how a baby’s gut and nose bacteria, influenced by breastfeeding, relate to the risk of chest infections and asthma as they grow.
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.