Transdermal HIV prevention for breastfeeding infants using bnAbs on a patch
Official title: Advancing Multi-bNAbs Microneedle Patch Technology For HIV-1 Prevention in Breastfeeding Infants.
Funded at Old Dominion University · NIH-11395232 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A child-focused HIV prevention approach uses a patch to deliver protective antibodies through the skin to babies who are breastfed.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $772,274 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI186784-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395232 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include newborns and infants at risk of perinatal HIV exposure in settings with ongoing breastfeeding and maternal HIV infection.
✕Less likely to help
Infants not exposed to HIV or in settings without access to the patch may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a skin patch that safely delivers broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies to newborns and infants at risk through breastfeeding. The project aims to make protection easier to use than daily pills or injections, with stability at room temperature to suit low-resource settings. Researchers will test the patch’s safety, how well it delivers antibodies, and how well caregivers can apply it in real-world care environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the patch could provide a simple, safe, and affordable way to protect infants from HIV during breastfeeding.
How similar studies have gone: Prior antibody-based strategies show promise, but this approach seeks to overcome storage and administration barriers with a patch.
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.
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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.