Maternal and Infant Lactation pharmacoKinetics (MILK)

Worldwide many women require drug treatment during breastfeeding, but data surrounding transfer of drug from mother to breastfed infant are scarce and of very low quality.

This fellowship will provide robust pharmacological data to inform evidence-based decision-making, through collaboration between University of Liverpool, UK; Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Uganda (IDI); and University of Cape Town, South Africa (UCT).

The drug exposure of infants of breastfeeding mothers requiring treatment for TB (drug-sensitive or drug-resistant), malaria and peri-partum infection, identified as local priorities, will be described. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling of maternal plasma, breastmilk and infant blood will be undertaken.

Bioanalysis will be done in the country of study, with capacity building at IDI supported by Liverpool and UCT.

Consolidation of an integrated clinical and modelling approach for clinical pharmacology at IDI will ensure the generation of high-quality, robust data, and a sustainable group generating fresh ideas and proposals alongside the fellowship.

South-north knowledge transfer will help define research priorities for the UK and build expertise in lactation pharmacology in Liverpool.

Public engagement activities in both the UK and Uganda will communicate about study activities and harness the views and concerns of community members and healthcare workers about medication use in breastfeeding.