Summary
This project aims to advance knowledge of HIV infection consequences and comorbidities by operating a Clinical Research Site (CRS) for the Multi-Center AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) Combined Cohort Study (MACS/WIHS-CCS) in Miami, focusing on racial/ethnic minorities.
What they want
The Miami CRS will enroll and follow 500 men and women with HIV infection or at risk for HIV, including approximately 250 men (men who have sex with men, bisexual men, and heterosexual men, largely Black or Hispanic) and 250 women (continuing 149 existing WIHS enrollees and recruiting 100 additional women). The site will provide expertise to lead components of the CCS unified science agenda, including protocol development and laboratory support. Research areas include exploring cardiovascular outcomes and HIV progression in the context of substance use and depression, investigating inflammatory biomarkers, evaluating effects of microbiomes on HIV reservoirs, assessing comorbidities and HIV persistence, examining trajectories of vulnerabilities and resiliencies, and studying biological pathways linking psychosocial factors/substance use to cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive function. Developmental funds will support pilot studies by early-stage and established investigators.
Deliverables
- Enrollment and follow-up of 500 men and women with HIV infection or at risk for HIV
- Protocol development for CCS unified science agenda
- Laboratory support for protocols and sub-studies
- Implementation of the full CCS unified science agenda
- Research findings on cardiovascular outcomes and HIV progression
- Research findings on inflammatory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk and immune activation
- Research findings on effects of oral, female genital, and gut microbiome on HIV reservoir and ART exposure
- Research findings on comorbidities and effect of HIV persistence, inflammation, and immune markers
- Research findings on trajectories of vulnerabilities and resiliencies and their relationship to HIV outcomes
- Research findings on biological pathways linking psychosocial factors and substance use to cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive function
- Development and execution of innovative pilot studies
