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Impact of MPXV infection on pregnancy outcome and newborn health

Project description

Mpox: risks and outcomes in pregnant women

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease characterised by fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe outcomes if infected, with potential complications such as preterm birth or transmission of the virus to the baby. The EU-funded PREGMPOX project aims to understand the transmission patterns and impact of mpox virus among pregnant women. The investigation will be held in the Congo province of South Kivu and will analyse existing health data on virus prevalence, transmission routes and adverse pregnancy outcomes. PREGMPOX will also evaluate the safety of an mpox vaccine and antiviral treatment in pregnancy, aiming to improve management guidelines and inform global health policies.

Objective

Pregnant women have an increased risk of severe mpox disease, however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. To better understand altered transmission pattern of MPXV and its impact on this vulnerable population, PREGMPOX aims to assess the extent of MPXV spreading among pregnant women in South Kivu and neighboring regions through both passive and active surveillance. Passive surveillance will utilize existing health data from local facilities, capturing reported cases, while active surveillance will involve direct community engagement to identify and document unreported cases. In sentinel study sites in hot spot areas, the prevalence of MPXV infection among pregnant women will be investigated and potential transmission routes determined. Moreover, our project aims to document and analyze adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with MPXV infection, such as spontaneous losses, stillbirths, preterm deliveries, and neonatal infection. MPXV+ pregnant women will be asked to participate in a cohort study where they will be followed until delivery to document pregnancy outcomes, maternal immune response, and virus abundance and pathological changes in the placenta. This will help to determine specific risk factors and modes and frequencies of vertical transmission to the unborn, and generate a list of clinical and immunological predictors for adverse outcomes for pregnant women and neonates. As a prerequisite to evaluate the safety of the MVA-BN vaccine and tecovirimat treatment in pregnant women, we will create a comprehensive register of adverse pregnancy outcomes, using a pharmacovigilance model to monitor and analyze adverse events following immunization and treatment. The results of our multidisciplinary studies will be crucial for developing guidelines and recommendations to manage mpox more effectively during pregnancy, and for potentially influencing global health policies.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2024-Mpox

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 355 608,75
Address
PRINSSTRAAT 13
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Antwerpen Arr. Antwerpen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 355 608,75

Participants (3)

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