Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2006

Mentor: Drs Elizabeth Stehel and Pablo Sanchez
Department: Pediatrics
Room number: Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Parkland; ARCH Center, Children's Medical Center
Mail Code: 9063
Phone number: 214-590-4206 or 214-648-3753
E-mail: Elizabeth.stehel@utsouthestern.edu
Pablo.sanchez@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and maternal hu man immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
IRB#0603-337

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
N/A

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)
patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:
This project investigates the interaction between maternal HIV infection and congenital CMV infection. The project is a continuation of research begun last year by the same student. Congenital CMV infection is the most common congenital viral infection worldwide, occurring in about 1% of all live births in the United States. Some CMV-infected infants are at risk for developing mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or hearing impairment. The immune compromise that occurs among HIV-infected pregnant women may facilitate the transmission of CMV to the fetus, or alternatively, maternal/placental CMV infection may allow for increased transmission of HIV as well.

The project goals are 1) To determine the frequency of congenital CMV and HIV infection in infants born to HIV-infected mothers; 2) To identify risk factors for transmission of congenital CMV infection in infants born to HIV-infected mothers; and 3) To describe neonatal and infant outcomes in infants with congenital CMV infection born to HIV-infected mothers. The student will complete a review of medical records of infants born to HIV-infected women and their HIV-infected mothers to accomplish the study goals.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

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