Very early treatment to help some infants with HIV stay off medicine
Early prevention interventions towards ART-free pediatric HIV remission
This work tests whether starting combination HIV medicines in newborns within days of infection can let some babies stop taking antiretroviral drugs and remain free of detectable virus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11256770 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about research that builds on animal and limited human observations showing that giving strong HIV medicines very soon after birth can sharply lower the virus and sometimes allow longer drug-free periods. The team will compare different drug combinations and exact timing of when treatment is started in newborn and infant models to find what best prevents the virus from hiding in the body. They will measure virus levels in blood and tissues and study immune responses to learn why ultra-early treatment works in some infants but not others. The aim is to turn those findings into safer, evidence-based treatment plans for newborns exposed to HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be newborns and very young infants (days to a few weeks old) who were exposed to HIV at birth or are at high risk for mother-to-child transmission.
Not a fit: Older children, adolescents, or adults who start treatment long after infection are unlikely to benefit from the very early-intervention approaches in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could allow some infants with HIV to stop lifelong antiretroviral therapy and remain healthy without continuous medication.
How similar studies have performed: Similar ultra-early treatment approaches produced sustained remission in some infant macaque experiments and in rare human case reports, but results have been inconsistent and need further confirmation.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Huanbin — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Xu, Huanbin
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 below.