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Research  *  Recherche

The core “raison d’être” of CPARG has always been pediatric and perinatal HIV research. It originated in response to lack of information about pediatric HIV early on in the epidemic, the recognition of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and the rapid need to develop protocols for the use of new drugs as they emerged for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and for treatment of infected children. Members of CPARG participated in the first trials of Zidovudine for PMTCT, and subsequently in studies of combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) in children. Now twenty years later, the group continues to be active in the next phase of HIV research – investigating HIV viral remission and the potential for functional cure in children.  Seven CPARG affiliated sites are participating in the CIHR funded EPIC4 study (Early Pediatric Initiation of cART, Canadian Child Cure Cohort). In addition, there are two CPARG affiliated cohorts studying perinatal HIV transmission and the effects of HIV and cART on HIV exposed uninfected children.

Highlights  *  Faits saillants

2022 Highlights
  • Presented at the 14th International Workshop on HIV & Pediatrics, held in Montreal and virtually, prior to the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022): Long-term Canadian study shows HIV-exposed children have worse health outcomes.
  • Presented at the 31 th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2022), April 27-29, 2022; Abstracts Book: https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CAHR-2022-Abstract-Book.pdf
2021 Highlights
  • Presented at the 30th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2021), May 5-7, 2021; Abstracts Book: https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CAHR-2021-Abstract-Book-updated-May3.pdf
2020 Highlights
  • Presented at the 29th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2020), May 1-2, 2020; Abstracts Book: https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/virtual-conferences/abstract-book/
2019 Highlights
  • Presented at the 28th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2019), May 9-12, 2019; Abstracts Book
2018 Highlights
  • Presented at the 27th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2018), Apr. 26-29, 2018; Abstracts Book
2017 Highlights
  • Presented at the 26th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2017), Apr. 6-9, 2017; Abstracts Book

Highlights 2017-2022

2022 Highlights
 
Khan S, Tsang K, Kennedy LV, Read S, Yudin M, Boucoiran I, Bertozzi B, Cameron B, Habanyama M, Nkubito S, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Bitnun A. Developing consensus guidelines of infant feeding for WLWH. (oral abstract; abstract 100). 
 
Singer J, Bitnun A, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Boucoiran I, Money D, Lee T, Sauve L, Comeau J, Tse-Chang A, Vaudry W, Canadian Perinatal Surveillance Program. Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program: Assessment of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to HIV Treatment and vertical transmission. (oral abstract; abstract 43).
 
Brochon J*, Lee T, Singer J, Brophy J, Metras ME, Comeau J, Tse-Chang A, Money D, Boucoiran I, Sauve LJ, Bitnun A, Kakkar F. Neonatal combination antiretrociral prophylaxis for the prevention of vertical transmission: a risk-based assessment. (oral abstract; abstract 177).
 
Baba K*, Lee T, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Samson L, Sauve L, Read S, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A, Brophy J. Effects of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) on body mass index in children living with HIV. (oral abstract; abstract 249)
 
Young J, Chen V, Bitnun A, Read S, Smith M. Attention in early school-aged children who are HIV-exposed uninfected. (poster presentation; poster 98)
            
Young JM, Brophy J, Serghides L, Bitnun A, Smith ML. Behavioural and emotional functioning of school-aged children who are HIV-exposed, uninfected: A preliminary study. (poster presentation; poster 99)
 
2021 Highlights
 
Singer J, Sauve L, Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Money D, Vaudry W, Bourcoiran I, Comeau J, Bitnun A, for the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program. Impact of COVID-19 on access to optimal HIV treatment and vertical transmission: Canadian Perinatal Surveillance Program. (abstract 206; poster) 
 
2020 Highlights
 
Brophy J, Kakkar F, Lee T, Hawkes MT, Samson L, Sauve L, Read S, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A. Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Co-morbidities in Canadian Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in the EPIC4 cohort. (Oral abstract CS1.01; Session: CS1: HIV in Women and Children). 
 
Kazmi K*, Alimenti A, Sauve L, Brophy J, Tse-Chang A, McConnell A, Nashid N, Bitnun A. Breastfeeding by Women Living with HIV in a Resource-Rich Setting: A Multicenter Retrospective Review of Maternal and Infant Management and Outcomes (Abstract CS1.06, poster presentation).
 
Diallo DM*, Ransy DG, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Samson L, Bitnun A, Read S, Hawkes M, Soudeyns H. Genotyping of HIV-1 Isolates Infecting Children and Adolescents with Undetectable Viral Load Under Antiretroviral Therapy. (Abstract BSP8.06, poster presentation). 
 
Dieumegard H*, Ransy DG, Bitnun A, Brophy J, Samson L, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Read S, Campion A, Soudeyns H, EPIC4 Study Group. Impact of Sustained Viral Suppression on HIV-specific Immune Responses and T Cell Exhaustion in Children and Adolescents with Perinatally-acquired HIV Infection. (Abstract BSP10.09, poster presentation). 
 
Young JM*, Bitnun A, Read SE, Smith ML. Neurodevelopment of HIV/ARV-Exposed Uninfected Children Compared with HIV-unexposed Uninfected Children During Early Childhood. (Abstract CSP2.07, Poster presentation). 
 
Li SNJ*, Boucoiran I, Tan B, Singer J, Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Money D, Alimenti A, Vaudry W, Comeau J, Bitnun A, Wong A, Sauve L. Cascades of Care for Preventing Vertical HIV Transmission. (Abstract EPHP1.08, poster presentation). 
 
Singer J, Sauve LJ, Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Money D, Vaudry W, Alimenti A, Boucoiran I, Bitnun A, Tan B, Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP) Vertical Transmission in Canada: Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program. (Abstract EPHP4.10, Poster presentation). 
 
 
2019 Highlights 
  
Sauve LJ, Singer J, Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Money D, Alimenti A, Vaudry W, Bourcoiran I, Comeau J, Wong A, Bitnun A for the EPIC4 Study Group. Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP). Prevention of vertical HIV transmission in Canada: A Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program Update. (Abstract CS3.02; oral presentation). 
 
Money D, Lee T, O’Brien C, Brophy J, Bitnun A, Kakkar F, Bourcoiran I, Alimenti A, Vaudry W, Singer J, Sauve LJ, Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP). Congenital anomalies following antenatal exposure to dolutegravir: a Canadian surveillance study. (abstract CS1.03; oral presentation). 
 
Khan S, Kwaramba G, Kihembo M, Alyass A, Read S, Loutfy M, Kennedy VL, Macgillivray J, Bitnun A, Yudin M. Knowledge Attitudes and Experiences regarding Infant Feeding among Women Living with HIV. (abstract KP1.04; oral presentation). 
 
Brophy J, Ransy DG, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Samson LE, Lee T, Read SE, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A, for the EPIC4 Study Group. Clinical outcomes of children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection initiated on combination antiretroviral therapy within 72 hours of birth in the EPIC4 Cohort. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 9 – 12, 2019. (abstract CS3.08; oral presentation). 
 
Bitnun A, Ransy DG, Brophy J, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Samson LE, Annabi B, Pagliuzza A, Morand JA, Sauve L, Chomont N, Lavoie S, Kim J, Sandstrom P, Wender PA, Lee T, Singer J, Read SE, Soudeyns H, for the EPIC4 Study Group. Clinical correlates of HIV-1 reservoirs in peripheral blood of children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection with sustained virologic suppression. (abstract CS4.03; oral presentation). 
 
Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Ransy DG, Hawkes MT, Samson LE, Read SE, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A, for the EPIC4 Study Group. Time to viral load suppression and rebound among Canadian infants and children initiating cART in the Early Pediatric Initiation of CART Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4) cohort. (abstract CS3.01; oral presentation). 
 
Dieumegard H*, Ransy DG, Bitnun A, Brophy J, Samson LE, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Read SE, Soudeyns H, for the EPIC4 Study Group. Impact of sustained viral suppression on HIV-specific cell-mediated immune responses in children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection. (abstract BS1.06; oral presentation). 
 
Bitnun A, Read SE, Smith ML. Cognitive, Adaptive, and Academic Skills in 5 ½ year-old HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children Exposed Pre- and Perinatally to Antiretroviral Medications. (abstract CSP7.02; poster presentation). 
 
Kakkar F, Ransy DG, Vlois S, Tallefer S, Reinhard R, Brophy J, Soudeyns H for the EPIC4 Study Group. Children s perceptions of HIV Cure Research: An Early Pediatric Initiation of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4) end of study assessment. (abstract CSP7.01; poster presentation). 
 
2018 Highlights 
​
 Kordy F*, Nashid N, Khan S, Read S, MacDougall G, Louch D, Arneson C, Bitnun A. Video Directly Observed Therapy to Improve Adherence to Combination Anti-retroviral Therapy in HIV Infected Adolescents: A Pilot Study. (poster presentation, abstract CSP5.02). 
 
Dieumegard H*, Ransy DG, Fourati IS, Taillefer SS, Janelle-Montcalm A, Caty M, Valois, S,Read S, LapointeN, Boucher M, SamsonL, Hawkes MT,LamarreV,Kakkar F, Bitnun A,Brophy J, Soudeyns H, for the EPIC4 StudyGroup. Sustained virologic suppression differentially influencesHIV-specific cell-mediated immune responses inperinatally infected children and adolescents. (poster presentation, abstractBSP8.02).
 
Kakkar F,Sauve L, Lee T, Samson L, Brophy J, Hawkes MT, Alimenti A, Vaudry W,Soudeyns,H,Singer J,Bitnun A. 90/90/90? How Canadian infants and children measuring up toUNAIDS targets for 2020.(poster presentation,abstractCSP5.01).

Ajaykumar A*,Zhu M,Soudeyns H, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Bitnun A, Alimenti A, Money DM, Côté HCF, and the CIHR Team in Cellular Aging and HIV Comorbidities in Women and Children (CARMA). Blood mtDNA Levels are Persistently Elevated from Birth into Early Life (0-3y) in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children Exposed to cART in utero. (oral presentation,abstract CS4.06).

Sauve L, Singer J,Kakkar F, Lee T,Brophy J,Money D, Alimineti A, Vaudry W, Boucoiran I, Bitnun A, for the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance Program (CPHSP). Towards elimination of vertical transmission: Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program. (oral presentation,abstract CS2.01).

Kakkar F, Lee T, Samson L, BrophyJ, Hawkes MT, Ransy DG, Soudeyns, H,Bitnun A,fortheEPIC4Study Group. Predictors of viral suppression among children inCanada initiating cART in theEPIC4 cohort: Role of socio-economic factors. The27thAnnualCanadianConference on HIV/AIDS Research(CAHR).Vancouver, BritishColumbia, April 26-29, 2018.(oral presentation, abstract CS4.03).

Bitnun A,KakkarF, BrophyJ, SamsonLE, Hawkes MT, Read SE, Lee T, Ransy DG,ChomontN, Pagliuzza E, Sandstrom P,Kim J, Lavigne C, Lavoie SS,Wender PA, SoudeynsH,for the EPIC4 Study Group. HIV reservoir size in peripheral blood of perinatally infected children: resultsfromEPIC4 (EarlyPediatric Initiation, Canada ChildCure Cohort) Study.(oral presentation, abstractCS4.01).

Hawkes M, Mocanu V,SooJ, BrophyJ, Kakkar F, Bitnun A, Samson L, Read S,DieumegardH,Janemme-Montcalm, Ransy D, Soudeyns H, for the EPIC4 Study Group. Microbial translocation,inflammation and endothelial activation in verticallyHIV-1infected children. (oral presentation, abstract CS4.04).
2017 Highlights

CPHSP

Carvalho S, Lee T, Tulloch K, Sauve L, Samson L, Brophy J, Bitnun A, Singer J, Money D, Kakkar F, Boucoiran I, and members of the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP) (2022). Prescribing patterns of antiretroviral treatments during pregnancy for women living with HIV in Canada 2004-2020: a surveillance study HIV Medicine 2022

Money D, Lee T, O’Brien C, Brophy J, Bitnun A, Kakkar F, Bourcoiran I, Alimenti A, Vaudry W, Singer J, Sauve LJ, for the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP) (2019). Congenital anomalies following antenatal exposure to dolutegravir: a Canadian surveillance study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2019;126:1338–1345

Money D, Lee T, O’Brien C, Farjou G, Brophy J, Vaudry W, Bourcoiran I, Singer J, Kakkar F, Bitnun A, Alimenti A and Sauve LJ, for the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP) (2018). An analysis of congenital anomalies in pregnant women living with HIV in Canada: no signal for neural tube defects in women exposed to dolutegravir. HIV Glasgow 2018 meeting, poster, October 28-31, 2018

Singer, J., Brophy, J., Lee, T., Bitnun, A., Kakkar, F., Alimenti, A., and Sauvé, L. (2017). Predictors of suboptimal treatment of pregnant HIV-positive women in Canada
. Oral Presentation CS3.05,


Brophy, J., Lee, T., Bitnun, A., Kakkar, F., Singer, J., Alimenti, A., and Sauve, L. (2017). Is Tenofovir Use in Pregnancy Associated with Preterm Delivery? 26th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research Oral Presentation CS3.06, Montreal, QC, Canada.  

​Bitnun, A., Singer, J., Brophy, J., Lee, T., Kakkar, F., Alimenti, A., and the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP). (2017). Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program (CPHSP): Demographics, Perinatal HIV Transmission, and Treatment in Pregnancy in Canada 1997-2015.  

EPIC4 Cohort

Choudhury B*, Brown J, Ransy DG, Brophy J, Kakkar F, Bitnun A, Samson L, Read S, Soudyns H, Vaudry W, Houston S, Hawkes MT, and the EPIC4 Study Team (2021). Endothelial activation is associated with microbial translocation, systemic inflammation, and treatment regimen in children living with vertically acquired HIV-1 infection. HIV Med. 2021 Apr;22(4):273-282. 

Canape J, Dieumegard H, Ransy DG, Diallo MA, Bitnun A, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Samson L, Hawkes MT, Wender P, Pagliuzza A, Massanella M, Chomont N, Read S, Le Campion, Soudeyns H, EPIC4 Study Group (2021). Naïve CD4+ T cells form the bulk of the translation competent HIV-1 reservoir in vertically infected children and adolescents. 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS), Virtual, July 18 to 21, 2021 (oral presentation)

Dieumegard H*, Ransy DG, Bitnun A, Brophy J, Samson L, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Read S, Le Campion A, Soudeyns H, EPIC4 Study Group (2021). Impact of age on T-cell exhaustion in children, adolescents and adults with vertically acquired HIV infection. 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS), Virtual, July 18 to 21, 2021 (poster presentation)

Diallo MA*, Ransy DG, Lacap P, Lavoie S, Kim J, Sandstorm P, Wender PA, Dieumegard H, Canape J, Kakkar F, Brophy J, Samson L, Bitnun A, Read S, Hawkes MT, Pagliuzza A, Chomont N, Soudeyns H, EPIC4 Study Group (2021). Dynamics of the prostratin-inducible HIV-1 peripheral reservoir in vertically infected children and adolescents. 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS), Virtual, July 18 to 21, 2021 (poster presentation)

Kakkar F, Lee T, Hawkes MT, Brophy J, Samson L, Singer J, Dieumegard H, Sauvé L, Alimenti A, Vaudry W, Seigel S, Tan B, Karatzios C, Lamarre V, Read S, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A; EPIC4 Study Group (2020). Challenges to achieving and maintaining viral suppression among Canadian children living with perinatal HIV infection in the EPIC4 cohort. AIDS. 2020 Apr 1;34(5):687-697.

PA. Bitnun A, Brophy J, Kakkar F, Hawkes MT, Samson LE, Annabi B, Pagliuzza A, Morand JA, Sauve L, Chomont N, Lavoie S, Kim J, Sandstrom P, Wender PA, Lee T, Singer J, Read SE, Soudeyns H, for the EPIC4 Research Group (2020). Clinical correlates of HIV-1 DNA and inducible HIV-1 RNA reservoirs in peripheral blood in children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 infection with sustained virologic suppression for at least 5 years. Clin Infect Dis 2020;70(5):859–66

Gulhati V*, Soo J, Ransy DG, Brophy J, Kakkar F, Bitnun A, Samson L, Read S, Soudeyns H, Hawkes MT; for EPIC4 Study Group (2019). Brief Report: Higher Levels of Angiopoietin-1 Are Associated With Early and Sustained Viral Suppression in Children Living With Vertically Acquired HIV. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2019 Apr 15;80(5):590-595.

Kakkar F, Lee T, Brophy J, Hawkes MT, Samson L, Read S, Soudeyns H, Bitnun A and the EPIC4 Study Group (2019). Time to viral load suppression and rebound among Canadian infants and children initiating cART in the Early Pediatric Initiation of CART Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4). The 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science, Mexico City, Mexico, July 21-24, 2019 (poster presentation)

​Kakkar F, Ransy DG, Valois S, Taillefer S, Dieumegard H, Reinhardt R, Brophy J, Read S, Samson L, Hawkes M, Bitnun A, Soudeyns H, EPID4 Study Group (2019). Children's perceptions of HIV Cure Research: An end of study assessment of the Early Pediatric Initiation, Canada Child Cure Cohort (EPIC4) study. The 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science, Mexico City, Mexico, July 21-24, 2019 (poster presentation)

Kakkar F, Brophy J, Hawkes MT, Samson L, Lee T, Soudeyns H, Read S. Bitnun A, for the EPIC4 Study group (2018). Challenges to achieving and maintaining sustained viral suppression among HIV infected Canadian children. 22nd International AIDS Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 23-27 July 2018 (poster presentation)

Brophy, J., Dieumegard, H., Ransy, D., Kakkar, F., Samson, L., Hawkes, M., and the EPIC4 Study Group. (2017). Impact of Timing and Duration of Virologic Suppression on HIV Serologic and ELISpot responses in the EPIC4 cohort.
Dieumegard, H., Ransy, D., Fourati, I., Taillefer, S., Janelle-Montcalm, A., Caty, M., and the EPIC4 Study Group. (2017). Impact of sustained virologic suppression on HIV-specific cell-mediated immune responses in children and adolescents.

Hawkes, M., Brophy, J., Kakkar, F., Samson, L., Read, S., Soudeyns, H., and the EPIC4 Study Group. (2017). Residual inflammation and endothelial activation in HIV-1 vertically infected children with fully suppressed viral replication on anti-retroviral therapy.

​Kakkar, F., Brophy, J., Samson, L., Hawkes, M., Read, S., Soudeyns, H., and the EPIC4 Study Group. (2017). The Early Pediatric Initiation, Canada Child Cure Cohort Study (EPIC4): Successes and Failures of Early Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) Initiation.

CARMA

CARMA on PUBMED: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Cote+H+CARMA

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