# Expansion of research and mentoring opportunities to reduce the burden of maternal and pediatric HIV in Botswana

> **NIH NIH K24** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2024 · $184,611

## Abstract

Summary / Abstract
I am applying for a K24 renewal with the goal of expanding the scope of my NIH-funded research and expanding
mentorship opportunities at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in Botswana. In the past 23 years,
I have built a successful research program in Botswana with a recent focus on adverse birth outcomes
surveillance and novel treatment strategies for children with HIV. I have successfully mentored or co-mentored
nearly 50 young investigators in my career, and my current K24 has been essential for my recent mentoring
activities. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, my K24 research and mentoring aims have been achieved – and
often expanded – over the past 5 years. With re-funding, my K24-supported research will have the following
mentored research aims, which span all of my funded research activities: (1) to evaluate uptake of 6-week HIV
DNA PCR testing, risk factors for lack of testing, and risk factors for HIV vertical transmission in the Botswana
national treatment program; (2) to evaluate the uptake of cabotegravir-LA pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
offered in pregnancy through the Botswana national program; (3) to determine the incidence of maternal
morbidity and mortality associated with cesarean section at Princess Marina Hospital (by HIV status), and
develop interventions to standardize medical indications for caesarean section, while training my current mentee
to become a mentor; and (4) to perform specialized diagnostics and qualitative interviews to optimize a strategy
for a future analytic treatment interruption (ATI) among highly selected children and adolescents living with HIV,
while fostering research independence in a Botswana-based laboratory mentee. My training plan will specifically
expand my expertise in maternal-fetal medicine and HIV cure strategies, and my mentoring plan will involve a
team approach with co-mentors in Boston and Botswana to efficiently utilize opportunities within a new Program
Award, ongoing clinical trials, and existing datasets and specimens. The ultimate goal of my K24 renewal
application is to expand capacity to conduct high-impact patient-oriented research in Botswana by the next
generation of global health leaders from Africa and the United States.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10894299
- **Project number:** 5K24AI131924-07
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Roger L Shapiro
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $184,611
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-02-05 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10894299

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10894299, Expansion of research and mentoring opportunities to reduce the burden of maternal and pediatric HIV in Botswana (5K24AI131924-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10894299. Licensed CC0.

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