Researchers awarded NIH R01 grant to conduct study on HIV-infected children

Congratulations to Professor Ernesta Meintjes (University of Cape Town), Andre van der Kouwe (Massachusetts General Hospital) and Dr Barbara Laughton (Stellenbosch University), who were awarded an R01 grant for their research project on HIV-infected children. Only 20% of projects that apply for R01 funding are successful in their applications. 

The project titled "Extension of a longitudinal cognitive and brain imaging study of early treated perinatally HIV-infected children through adolescence", will be conducted across three sites over a period of 3 to 5 years.

Adolescence is an important period of cognitive, emotional and social change, with the brain undergoing substantial structural and functional development as it matures. Studies show that perinatally HIV infected (PHIV+) children display deficits in cognitive development relative to their uninfected peers. This project will continue to follow 110 PHIV+ children with cognitive testing, clinical assessments and neuroimaging through adolescence. These children were amongst the first globally to receive early antiretroviral therapy (ART). This project will complete the continuous study of these children from birth to the age of 16, after which the children are likely to leave school and disperse.

This research will result in an improved understanding of the effects of HIV and ART on brain developmental trajectories from childhood to adolescence and this knowledge may guide public policy and treatment strategies.

This project is a collaborative effort between the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and Massachusetts General Hospital.