Understanding how mothers pass hepatitis B virus to their children
Official title: Molecular analysis of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11100437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mothers with hepatitis B can pass the virus to their babies and how this affects the babies' immune systems, with the goal of finding ways to prevent this transmission and help keep children healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $621,698 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI189583-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11100437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 11 who are born to mothers infected with hepatitis B virus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of hepatitis B transmission, such as those without infected mothers or those already vaccinated against HBV, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted from infected mothers to their children, focusing on how maternal HBV affects the immune response in offspring. Using a specialized mouse model, researchers will analyze the impact of maternal HBV on the development of anti-HBV immunity in children. The study aims to uncover the role of maternal antigens and immune cells in shaping the immune response of newborns, which could lead to chronic HBV infections. By understanding these processes, the research seeks to identify potential interventions to prevent transmission and improve health outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, ultimately reducing chronic infections in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding viral transmission mechanisms in other contexts, but this specific approach to studying maternal transmission of HBV is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ou, J.-H. James — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Ou, J.-H. James
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HBV cure clues in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific B and T cell responses relate to curing hepatitis B in people with and without HIV.
-
HBV cure factors in people with and without HIV
This project studies how HBV-specific immune cells behave during treatment and whether people with HIV respond differently than those without HIV.
-
HBV prevention in community pharmacies: a first step in a low-resource setting
This pilot project tests whether hepatitis B screening and vaccination can be integrated into everyday community pharmacy services to reach more people.
-
Blood markers to catch early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
This project will see if a blood test can find liver cancer earlier in Hispanic people who have chronic hepatitis B.
-
Early blood markers to find hepatitis B–related liver cancer in Hispanics
This project will use immune-related blood markers to find liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, focusing on Hispanic adults.
-
HBV safety with long-acting HIV therapy for people with HIV
A study to understand how long-acting HIV meds affect hepatitis B in people living with HIV and how to best monitor and protect them.
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.