Faculty to Faculty Mentoring Grants
Mentee: Youssef A. Kousa, DO, PhD, MS
Mentor: Adre du Plessis, MBChB, Roberta DeBiasi, MD, MS
Objectives:
- To obtain preliminary data necessary to apply for an (external) NIH research grant to test the hypothesis that genetic risk and protective factors contribute to birth defects with exposure to Zika virus
- To enroll 160 additional families (mother-infant dyads or trio when the father is available) who were exposed to Zika virus during pregnancy
- To perform neonatal physical exams on each infant enrolled in the study
- To isolate DNA from all collected blood samples
Project Summary:
Our goal is to understand why only some infants who are exposed to Zika virus develop microcephaly, epilepsy and developmental delay (Congenital Zika Syndrome). Our study design is a prospective, nested-cohort whole genome association study currently being performed across South, Central, and North America, with partnership by the Zika in Pregnancy Consortium and the National Institute of Child Health and Development, The goal of this proposal is to generate enough preliminary data for an external NIH grant application by increasing the number of enrolled individuals in Colombia. The study might help is understand if there are genetic factors that further predispose to disparities in maternal and infant health in South, Central, and North America.
