This newsletter from the Uganda chapter of Pharmacometrics Africa offers unique insights into the current status of the Maternal and Infant Lactation pharmacoKinetics (MILK) project. This edition covers key project activities and features a profile of postdoctoral Pharmacokinetic researcher Aida Kawuma. Read more about the program below, or view the newsletter here.
About MILK
About half of all women worldwide require medication whilst breastfeeding. Historically, breastfeeding women have been excluded from drug research, largely with the intention of protecting the mothers and their infants from harm. However, lack of data to inform safe medication use in this population itself brings risk. In low-income settings drugs are frequently used ‘off-label’ through necessity and in high-income settings the ‘safest’ recommendation may be to avoid breastfeeding.
MILK strengthens existing collaborations and my existing work on HIV antiretrovirals by studying treatments for several priority infections (tuberculosis, malaria and maternal infection around the time of delivery) in breastfeeding mother-infant pairs. Carefully designed clinical studies with mathematical (pharmacometric) approaches to data analysis will elucidate drug transfer from mother to breastfed infant. Work with patient groups and policymaking stakeholders maximises impact through data sharing and prioritisation of ongoing work.