– I am incredibly grateful to the funders, but also for the fantastic mentorship I have received from Dr.Ujjwal Neogi and the support from the Department of Clinical Microbiology and, more broadly, the Department of Laboratory medicine, says Iva Filipovic, research specialist at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet (KI).
In November, she received the Swedish Research Council’s prestigious starting grant within health and medicine, followed by grants from the Jeansson Foundations, and finally the Åke Wiberg Foundation’s major grant in December.
– I now feel financially ready to establish my own research group, and I am genuinely enthusiastic about the research that will be possible from 2026 onwards. I plan to start recruiting soon, and I am really looking forward to training the next generation of researchers in immunology and infectious diseases using advanced high-throughput technologies, says Iva Filipovic.
Understanding HIV’s Impact on Pregnancy and Infant Health
The project focuses on a critical knowledge gap: how chronic HIV infection and its treatment affect the microenvironment of the placenta and early immune programming. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively prevents mother-to-child transmission, little is known about its long-term effects on pregnancy and early life health outcomes. ART, the standard treatment for HIV, suppresses the virus but doesn’t eliminate it, meaning individuals require lifelong treatment. Understanding the subtle impacts of long-term ART is crucial for optimizing maternal and infant health.
Iva Filipovic’s team will use cutting-edge techniques to study the placenta – a vital but under-explored organ in HIV-exposed pregnancies. The ultimate goal is to identify early warning signals (biomarkers) that can help identify pregnancies at higher risk. These biomarkers could perhaps allow for earlier intervention and improved outcomes.
Why This Research matters
Globally, an estimated 1.2 million women living with HIV give birth each year UNAIDS. Despite this, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding how treated, chronic HIV affects pregnancy and long-term health outcomes. With recent cuts in international HIV funding, there is an urgent need for research that can contribute to more effective and enduring care strategies. The Global AIDS response has faced funding challenges in recent years, highlighting the importance of targeted research.
Iva Filipovic believes the societal relevance is why the Åke Wiberg Foundation chose to support her project.
– our goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms and find biomarkers that help predict risks earlier and guide more targeted treatments – to improve the health of mothers and children.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on Placental Health: The research centers on the placenta, a critical organ often overlooked in HIV research.
- Long-Term Effects of ART: The study investigates the subtle, long-term impacts of antiretroviral therapy on both mother and child.
- Biomarker Discovery: A key aim is to identify biomarkers for early risk assessment in HIV-exposed pregnancies.
- Global Impact: The research addresses a significant global health issue, notably relevant given recent funding cuts for HIV programs.
Future Directions
Filipovic’s work represents a crucial step towards personalized care for women living with HIV and their infants. Future research will focus on validating these biomarkers in larger cohorts and developing targeted interventions to mitigate risks identified through this research. The team also plans to explore the potential of new therapeutic strategies to improve placental health and immune progress in HIV-exposed infants.
