# MATERNAL INFLAMMATION, DIET AND GUT MICROBIOME IN HIV: IMPACT ON INFANT OUTCOMES

> **NIH NIH R00** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $239,459

## Abstract

Preterm birth (PTB) is one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality. HIV-infected
pregnant women have a greater incidence of PTB and this population warrants further studies to determine the
risk factors. Some risk factors such as low maternal CD4 count, high viral load, co-infections, co-morbidities
and treatment regimen are associated with increased preterm birth, but whether and the extent to which
inflammation, a risk factor for PTB in HIV-uninfected populations, affects adverse birth outcomes among HIV-
infected women remains to be studied. I am seeking the Pathway to Independence Award in order to gain
additional training to meet my career goals: to become an independent investigator conducting research on
maternal immune, microbiological and nutritional factors that affect maternal-child health in the context of
infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. In doing so, I will productively bridge the different disciplines of public
health epidemiology, immunology, microbiology and nutrition. The training plan for this proposal combines
various forms of learning methods including didactic courses, workshops, apprenticeships resulting in
publications, directed readings and career development seminars and activities. These are designed for me to
gain specific skills in: 1) Nutritional Epidemiology and Perinatal Nutrition, and 2) Microbiome data analyses.
The competencies I learn from the training plan will then be applied to the research phase of the proposal
(K99, and especially R00). The research component proposes to study the relationship between maternal diet,
gut microbiome and inflammation and their association with PTB among HIV-infected pregnant women.
 Leveraging a recently funded NIH cohort immunology study of 400 HIV-infected and uninfected
pregnant women, I will nest my study within this parent trial to collect dietary information and stool samples to
address my specific aims: 1) Examine association between inflammation during pregnancy and incidence of
adverse birth outcomes among HIV-infected pregnant women, and 2) Determine the relationship of a) dietary
intake and b) gut microbiome with inflammation status among HIV-infected pregnant women. Given that diet
and gut microbiome are two environmentally modifiable factors that can affect inflammation, my study will
identify mechanisms to reduce inflammation and improve infant outcomes in HIV-infected populations. The
proposed training and research plan will result in publications and conference presentations leading to career
development to become an independent investigator during the R00 phase and with the ability to successfully
compete for a R01 grant.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986849
- **Project number:** 5R00HD089753-05
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Rupak Shivakoti
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $239,459
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-10 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986849

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986849, MATERNAL INFLAMMATION, DIET AND GUT MICROBIOME IN HIV: IMPACT ON INFANT OUTCOMES (5R00HD089753-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986849. Licensed CC0.

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