NICHD - CRMC - Pediatric, Adolescent and Maternal AIDS Branch (PAMA)

About NICHD - Organization - CRMC
Pediatric, Adolescent and Maternal AIDS Branch

The Pediatric, Adolescent, and Maternal AIDS (PAMA) Branch focuses its attention on supporting and conducting research into the epidemiology, natural history, pathogenesis, transmission, and treatment of HIV infection and disease in infants, children, adolescents, pregnant women, mothers, women of childbearing age, and the family unit as a whole.

The activities of the PAMA Branch are organized around four areas of emphasis. The Branch strives to address through research those areas unique to the maternal-child dyad, to the at-risk and infected adolescent, and to groups traditionally of special concern to pediatricians (e.g., hemophiliac children). Considerable attention is devoted, on one hand, to avoiding overlap with other NIH components and DHHS agencies and, on the other, to maximizing cooperation with other NICHD Branches and Programs, other NIH components, other agencies, and with interested private organizations which have a focus on maternal, adolescent, and pediatric HIV infection and disease. The four areas of emphasis include:

Epidemiology and Natural History of HIV Infection In Pregnant Women, Mothers, Infants, And Children including Adolescents.

Because AIDS in children was not recognized until after this infection was noted in adult men, the extent of this disease in maternal and pediatric populations and the impact of this infection on the health and function of pregnant women and children currently require further description and explanation. It is clear that certain areas (e.g., CNS pathology) will require particular emphasis and focus.

Therapeutic Research In HIV Infection In Children And Pregnant Women

Research concerning the treatment and prevention of HIV infection and disease and its sequelae in pregnant women and children must necessarily take into account the unique biomedical makeup and problems of pregnant women and children and must further consider the fact that the women and children infected with this virus exist in social situations very different from many of the adult men infected with HIV.

Pediatric And Maternal Biomedical HIV-Related Research Issues

Many processes and problems are unique to the pediatric and maternal population infected with HIV. A few of these problems which must be addressed by focused research include the early diagnosis of HIV infection in the fetus, newborn, infant, and young child; the role of the placenta in the transmission of HIV infection from mother to fetus; and the timing and mechanisms of transmission of HIV from infected pregnant women to their offspring.

Adolescent HIV Infection And Disease

One-fifth of all the AIDS reported in the United States is reported in individuals in their twenties. Because there is a significant latent period between the time the infection is acquired and the diagnosis of full-blown AIDS (the mean time for this viral latency is now documented to be eight years or more), it is likely that many of these young people acquired their infection during their adolescent years. Thus, the PAMA Branch recognizes that support of research in this group is critical to intervening in the epidemic in this country.

CONTACT ADDRESS:
Name: Dr. Lynne Mofenson
Phone: (301) 496-7339
Title: Chief, Pediatric Adolescent and Maternal AIDS Branch
Office: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Address: Executive Building, Room 4B11
6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7510
Bethesda, MD 20892-7510
Email: mofensol@mail.nih.gov