# TERBO BRAIN Study: Trajectories of Emotional Regulation and Behavior Outcomes and related Brain Regions And Intrinsic Networks

> **NIH NIH P01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2020 · $598,708

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
An estimated 15 million children worldwide are living with perinatal HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) exposure, but
are HIV-uninfected (PHEU). Recent studies reveal cognitive challenges, mental health problems, and
increased rates of risk-taking behaviors including substance use among youth with PHEU (YPHEU). Existing,
cross-sectional neuroimaging studies indicate disrupted brain development among YPHEU, yet the underlying
neural mechanisms, particularly related to prenatal HIV and ARV exposure, are not well understood.
Dysfunction of networks supporting emotional regulation has been linked with childhood psychopathologies
and risk-taking behavior in youth, yet we know little in YPHEU despite increased risk behaviors. We propose a
longitudinal investigation to address these gaps in our current understanding. Our central hypothesis is that
disruption of networks supporting emotion regulation, and interaction with other developmental risks, are key to
understanding deficits in mental health, cognition and behavior in YPHEU. We will assess brain network
development, mental health, self-regulation and other cognitive domains, and risk-taking behavior, utilizing
functional and structural neuroimaging, clinical and computer-based assessments and tasks, in 190 YPHEU
(10-14 years) at baseline, and 2 years later. Participants will be recruited from the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort
Study (PHACS) Surveillance Monitoring of ART Toxicity Study (SMARTT). Aim 1 will leverage harmonized
age- and gender-matched neuroimaging and behavioral data from the NIH funded ABCD study on over 10,000
children age 9-10 years followed yearly, to compare with trajectories of brain network development, cognition
and behavior, as well as their relationships among YPHEU. Aim 2 will examine the impact of type and timing of
perinatal ARVs and other perinatal exposures such as substance use on brain network development within
YPHEU. We will also examine social and structural factors that may have independent effects on brain
development or interact with perinatal exposures. To further our understanding of lifetime implications of
perinatal exposures, exploratory Aim 3 will explore long-term brain network and behavioral consequences, and
their effect on transition to adult independence, in 50 young adults with PHEU and 50 with perinatally acquired
HIV (PHIV), age 22-29, enrolled in the PHACS Adolescent Master Protocol-Up (AMP Up) study. We will
leverage harmonized age- and gender-matched healthy young adult neuroimaging and behavioral data from
the NIH funded Human Connectome Project to compare outcomes. Recognizing significant public health
implications of the effects of ARV exposure on long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among YPHEU,
this project, leveraging multiple NIH-supported multicenter studies and established collaborations, will identify
mechanisms driving cognitive and behavioral outcomes, critical data for informing much needed prevention
and intervention ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065446
- **Project number:** 1P01HD103133-01
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Lei Wang
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $598,708
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-18 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065446

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065446, TERBO BRAIN Study: Trajectories of Emotional Regulation and Behavior Outcomes and related Brain Regions And Intrinsic Networks (1P01HD103133-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065446. Licensed CC0.

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