Effect of HIV and Substance Use Comorbidity on the Placenta and Maternal Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

This grant, titled "Effect of HIV and Substance Use Comorbidity on the Placenta and Maternal Outcomes", aims to explore how HIV and substance misuse affect the placenta and pregnancy outcomes, with or without the involvement of a clinical trial. It is important given that HIV affects an estimated 1.3 million people who become pregnant each year globally. This grant primarily focuses on the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), a treatment used to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Despite its benefits in reducing transmission rates, ART has been linked to an increase in premature births, stillbirths, and early infant deaths.

The placenta's health and functioning are crucial in maintaining a successful pregnancy and influencing maternal as well as fetal outcomes. However, there is a significant lack of information on how HIV and ART exposure influence the placenta. Furthermore, the research exploring these effects among those who are pregnant and also misuse substances is even less adequate. Therefore, this grant aims to fill these knowledge gaps to improve outcomes for expecting individuals who are living with HIV.