Most of the infants born to HIV-positive mothers are HIV-exposed but uninfected. HIV exposure in infants may cause brain developmental delays. This study will look for changes in the brain that might have occurred due to HIV exposure in infants. These measurements can lead to novel insights regarding the impact of HIV exposure in infants' brain and potentially guide the development of new therapies to mitigate abnormal brain development.

The goal of this HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) Study is to develop ultrasound techniques for detecting impaired blood supply to the brain using an investigational contrast agent. Our hope is to contribute to early diagnosis and improved outcomes.

Patients with who have had Fontan surgery are at risk for the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. New MRI based imaging techniques allow for non-invasive assessment of liver stiffness and fibrosis. These methods have been used in other diseases, but have not been studied in those who have undergone the Fontan operation. In this study we will test the feasibility of MRI based methods for the assessment of liver disease, and compare the results of these studies to those obtained from clinical liver biopsy.

The purpose of this study is to understand how children's brains process sounds and language. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual and Developmental Delay (IDD), or Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) often have trouble understanding sounds that are too close together compared to Typically Developing Controls (children without ASD, IDD, or DLD). Fast changes in speech can be hard for children. This may be awkward during conversations and difficult in social situations. This research will see if trouble with processing sounds contributes to language difficulties in children with ASD, IDD, and/or DLD.

HIV infection can cause harm to the brain and negatively affect memory, learning, and decision making in daily activities. Smoking may affect the ability of medications to reduce HIV in the bloodstream (viral load), which may affect long-term survival and brain health. This study will look for changes in the brain that might have occurred due to HIV infection or smoking.

We want to study brain responses during simulated driving and are currently looking for participants 12-17 years old or those who have had brain surgery. To do so, we'll have eligible participants come to CHOP for some non-invasive (safe) brain scans and drive using a simulator. If you are interested in learning more about the study, please contact Victoria Kaufman at kaufmanv@chop.edu or 267-425-4150.