The Maternal and Pediatric Infectious Disease Branch is proposing a FY20 initiative entitled, “The Pediatric HIV AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS).
The PHACS study addresses two critical pediatric HIV research questions:
- What is the long-term safety of fetal and infant exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART)?
- What are the effects of perinatally acquired HIV infection in adolescents?
The overall goals of the study are the following:
- To acquire definitive information on the long-term safety of ART when used during pregnancy and in newborns, and to ensure a mechanism is in place to estimate the upper bounds of risk for children who were exposed to ART during maternal treatment to prevent perinatal HIV transmission
- To understand how HIV and its treatment impact the growth and development, of perinatally HIV-infected pre-adolescents, adolescents, and young adults
- To follow these populations over time
NICHD began studying the PHACS cohorts in 2005. This initiative would continue the ongoing studies in PHACS of perinatally infected and exposed but uninfected infants from birth through adolescence and the effect of HIV disease and its treatment on sexual maturation and other outcomes in pre-adolescents, adolescents and young adults aged 8-24.
This study will provide invaluable information on the health and well-being of these populations and inform the development of additional interventions for ensuring healthy development of children perinatally infected or exposed and uninfected to HIV.
This proposed concept aligns with the NICHD Vision areas of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease and Reproduction.
This proposed concept aligns with the MPIDB and overarching HIV/AIDS priorities: Reducing Incidence of HIV/AIDS and Next Generation Therapeutics.
Program Contact
Denise Russo
Maternal and Pediatric Infectious Disease Branch (MPIDB)
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