WHO WE ARE
The LIFE HIV Initiative Consortium is an African-European collaborative network conducting research projects in Tanzania and Mozambique since 2017. Combining expertise in clinical infectious disease, HIV paediatrics, HIV virology, social science, health economics and eHealth systems, we cover a broad and multi-disciplinary range to design, support and conduct implementation research in African countries, as well as introduce novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the joined pathway to eliminate paediatric HIV.
For more information on the specific partner institutions, please visit our "Partners" page.
Missions and Goals
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, endorsed by the EU, includes the elimination of new paediatric HIV infections by 2030. New HIV infections among children declined by more than half from 2010 to 2020, primarily due to the increased provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV and post-natal prophylactic treatment (PNP) following Option B+ procedures. However, the momentum has slowed considerably in recent years, mainly due to variable antenatal care and ART coverage across African regions. In 2022, an estimated 1.5 million children aged 14 years and younger are living with HIV and still 130,000 of whom were newly infected.
The mission of the LIFE Initiative is to perform research and implement early infant HIV test & treat strategies starting from birth in rural African environment, establishing decentralized point-of care (PoC) diagnostics, task shifting and linkage procedures. Our goals are to enhance on the identification of high-risk cases for vertical transmission through PoC viral load screening and targeted support of most vulnerable mother-infant pairs. We further focus on the implementation and establishment of palatable infant ART regimens as well as novel preventive and therapeutic strategies related with the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to reduce vertical transmission and early infant mortality.
Current Projects
The Consortium is currently preparing the EDCTP funded LIFE2Scale Study titled “Increasing Neonatal HIV Test and Treat to Maximize the Long-Term Impact on Infant Health and Novel Infant Antiretroviral Treatment”. The study is starting enrolment in April 2024. Please see our "Projects" page for further information.
