K43TW012887
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Metabolomic predictors of weight gain during pregnancy and the postpartum period in South African women living with HIV - Project summary
People living with HIV (PLHIV) have a persistently reduced lifespan compared to their negative counterparts due to increased risk of metabolic co-morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Among women of reproductive potential, gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) are known contributors to the onset of these metabolic co-morbidities.
Early detection of pregnant women at risk of excessive GWG and PPWR can enable early interventions that will help minimize the occurrence of these co-morbidities in women living with HIV (WLHIV).
The overarching goal of this proposal is to identify urine metabolites that are predictive of excessive GWG and PPWR in WLHIV.
Candidate: Dr. Madlala is a physiologist/epidemiologist with training in molecular sciences, quantitative research methods and experience in field research implementation in South Africa.
She is applying for a five-year Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award to obtain the additional training, mentorship and experience required to become a leading independent investigator capable of obtaining R-series funding.
Mentoring: She has assembled an exceptional multidisciplinary team with extensive expertise in metabolic outcomes of HIV research in sub-Saharan Africa.
Drs. Myer (University of Cape Town, (UCT)) and Jao (Northwestern University) will serve as primary mentors providing complementary expertise on metabolic outcomes of WLHIV and clinical use of biomarkers.
Dr. Goedecke (UCT, SAMRC), co-mentor, is a physiologist with expertise in mechanistic science research.
Dr. Kurland (Albert Einstein: expertise in metabolomics laboratory technique) and Dr. Balmert (Northwestern University: expertise in ‘omics’ data handling and pathway analysis) will serve as scientific advisors in these areas.
Training: Specific training in biomarker discovery study design, ‘big’ data statistical analysis and metabolic pathway elucidation will be achieved through intensive mentored training and formal coursework.
This, combined with the experience gained through implementing her research aims, will establish Dr. Madlala’s independent research career investigating early biomarkers of adverse metabolic health in PLHIV.
Research: The specific aims of this research are to:
1) Assess whether HIV infection is associated with differences in urine metabolite species during the first trimester of pregnancy,
2) Develop risk prediction models for (i) GWG, (ii) PPWR and (iii) postpartum adiposity using metabolites and clinical variables, and
3) Elucidate the metabolic pathways of (i) GWG, (ii) PPWR and (iii) adiposity by applying pathway/network analysis to the prognostic metabolites identified.
The results of this study will inform the development of a urinary metabolite-based screening tool for adverse weight outcomes aimed at minimizing metabolic co-morbidities in pregnant and postpartum WLHIV.
They will provide preliminary data needed to apply for an R01 to conduct a large-scale study to rigorously examine predictive biomarker profiles for metabolically healthy (without co-morbidities) versus unhealthy (with co-morbidities) excessive GWG and PPWR.
People living with HIV (PLHIV) have a persistently reduced lifespan compared to their negative counterparts due to increased risk of metabolic co-morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Among women of reproductive potential, gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) are known contributors to the onset of these metabolic co-morbidities.
Early detection of pregnant women at risk of excessive GWG and PPWR can enable early interventions that will help minimize the occurrence of these co-morbidities in women living with HIV (WLHIV).
The overarching goal of this proposal is to identify urine metabolites that are predictive of excessive GWG and PPWR in WLHIV.
Candidate: Dr. Madlala is a physiologist/epidemiologist with training in molecular sciences, quantitative research methods and experience in field research implementation in South Africa.
She is applying for a five-year Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award to obtain the additional training, mentorship and experience required to become a leading independent investigator capable of obtaining R-series funding.
Mentoring: She has assembled an exceptional multidisciplinary team with extensive expertise in metabolic outcomes of HIV research in sub-Saharan Africa.
Drs. Myer (University of Cape Town, (UCT)) and Jao (Northwestern University) will serve as primary mentors providing complementary expertise on metabolic outcomes of WLHIV and clinical use of biomarkers.
Dr. Goedecke (UCT, SAMRC), co-mentor, is a physiologist with expertise in mechanistic science research.
Dr. Kurland (Albert Einstein: expertise in metabolomics laboratory technique) and Dr. Balmert (Northwestern University: expertise in ‘omics’ data handling and pathway analysis) will serve as scientific advisors in these areas.
Training: Specific training in biomarker discovery study design, ‘big’ data statistical analysis and metabolic pathway elucidation will be achieved through intensive mentored training and formal coursework.
This, combined with the experience gained through implementing her research aims, will establish Dr. Madlala’s independent research career investigating early biomarkers of adverse metabolic health in PLHIV.
Research: The specific aims of this research are to:
1) Assess whether HIV infection is associated with differences in urine metabolite species during the first trimester of pregnancy,
2) Develop risk prediction models for (i) GWG, (ii) PPWR and (iii) postpartum adiposity using metabolites and clinical variables, and
3) Elucidate the metabolic pathways of (i) GWG, (ii) PPWR and (iii) adiposity by applying pathway/network analysis to the prognostic metabolites identified.
The results of this study will inform the development of a urinary metabolite-based screening tool for adverse weight outcomes aimed at minimizing metabolic co-morbidities in pregnant and postpartum WLHIV.
They will provide preliminary data needed to apply for an R01 to conduct a large-scale study to rigorously examine predictive biomarker profiles for metabolically healthy (without co-morbidities) versus unhealthy (with co-morbidities) excessive GWG and PPWR.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NOT APPLICABLE
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
South Africa
Geographic Scope
Foreign
University Of Cape Town was awarded
Metabolomic Predictors of Weight Gain in Pregnant WLHIV
Project Grant K43TW012887
worth $113,048
from Fogarty International Center in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in South Africa.
The grant
has a duration of 5 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 9/5/24
Period of Performance
9/1/24
Start Date
8/31/29
End Date
Funding Split
$113.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$113.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
K43TW012887
SAI Number
K43TW012887-2114535769
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Non-Domestic (Non-U.S.) Entity
Awarding Office
75NF00 NIH FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Funding Office
75NF00 NIH FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Awardee UEI
NN5NML6VUCF9
Awardee CAGE
SBH72
Performance District
Not Applicable
Modified: 9/5/24