Blood borne viruses
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Infectious diseases are still major causes of deaths and illnesses worldwide. In our Blood Borne viruses programme we have focussed on hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These are the blood borne viruses with the greatest global burden of deaths and illness. Our studies are in line with the strategic priorities of the World Health Organization. Our results change guidelines, policy and practice across the age range. Most of our infection trials involve collaborations with partners and networks worldwide. We pursue collaborations which have high global impact and in which we can shape the science now and in the future, drive the research agenda, and play a key role in the research trial design, conduct and analysis. Examples of the impact of our research include:
1. license approval of new antiretroviral treatments for children with HIV, with resulting improved outcomes
2. a package of affordable anti-infective medicines, which reduces mortality in those presenting with AIDS
3. preventing HIV infection by taking just one antiretroviral pill a day.
Together these trials contribute to the WHO targets of eliminating AIDS globally.
1. license approval of new antiretroviral treatments for children with HIV, with resulting improved outcomes
2. a package of affordable anti-infective medicines, which reduces mortality in those presenting with AIDS
3. preventing HIV infection by taking just one antiretroviral pill a day.
Together these trials contribute to the WHO targets of eliminating AIDS globally.
Technical Summary
Infectious diseases remain major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In the Blood Borne viruses (BBV) programme we have focussed on hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the blood borne viruses with the greatest global burden of mortality and morbidity. Chronic BBV infections also have indirect effects, by increasing the risks or adverse consequences of non-communicable diseases. It therefore remains essential that prevention efforts across the spectrum of key BBVs continues, especially if the WHO targets for global elimination are to be achieved. Our studies are aligned with the major strategic priorities of the World Health Organization, and results are expected to, and have change guidelines, policy and practice across the age spectrum.
In particular, the advent of new highly effective direct acting antivirals against hepatitis C provides a unique opportunity for large strategic trials to identify how these drugs might be used best to support the elimination agenda and increase access, in low-and-middle-income countries and in the challenging “hard-to-reach-and-treat” populations. Our research objectives are to exploit new, short effective oral regimens to test strategies which might successfully cure patients whilst minimising drug exposure and/or course duration, including stratified medicine approaches, in large randomised trials. We also aim to develop a trial to cure hepatitis C virus in pregnant women living with HCV and prevent vertical HCV transmission.
In HIV infection, the prevention trials that we have led have played a major role in reducing new HIV infections, and we have implemented novel designs to improve efficiency in both the vaccine (MAMS designs) and self-testing (electronic randomisation and follow-up) areas. We have also completed a large randomised trial in late HIV presenters, identifying an adjunctive package of prophylaxis which reduced mortality after starting treatment by 25%. We continue to address relevant questions to the management of HIV-infected children, particularly focussing on questions relating to the efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs in new fixed dose combination solid dispersible formulations, using new ratios and following WHO-recommended weight-bands. However, the continued and improving success of treatment of vertically infected HIV-infected children surviving into adolescence as a consequence of antiretroviral therapy, has to be balanced with the poorer treatment outcomes in adolescents, and emphasises the need to investigate more acceptable, less toxic, treatment and prevention strategies to improve long-term health outcomes in this population, including the utility of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals. This objective will be achieved through the design, conduct and analysis of large randomised trials in low and middle-income settings.
In particular, the advent of new highly effective direct acting antivirals against hepatitis C provides a unique opportunity for large strategic trials to identify how these drugs might be used best to support the elimination agenda and increase access, in low-and-middle-income countries and in the challenging “hard-to-reach-and-treat” populations. Our research objectives are to exploit new, short effective oral regimens to test strategies which might successfully cure patients whilst minimising drug exposure and/or course duration, including stratified medicine approaches, in large randomised trials. We also aim to develop a trial to cure hepatitis C virus in pregnant women living with HCV and prevent vertical HCV transmission.
In HIV infection, the prevention trials that we have led have played a major role in reducing new HIV infections, and we have implemented novel designs to improve efficiency in both the vaccine (MAMS designs) and self-testing (electronic randomisation and follow-up) areas. We have also completed a large randomised trial in late HIV presenters, identifying an adjunctive package of prophylaxis which reduced mortality after starting treatment by 25%. We continue to address relevant questions to the management of HIV-infected children, particularly focussing on questions relating to the efficacy, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs in new fixed dose combination solid dispersible formulations, using new ratios and following WHO-recommended weight-bands. However, the continued and improving success of treatment of vertically infected HIV-infected children surviving into adolescence as a consequence of antiretroviral therapy, has to be balanced with the poorer treatment outcomes in adolescents, and emphasises the need to investigate more acceptable, less toxic, treatment and prevention strategies to improve long-term health outcomes in this population, including the utility of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals. This objective will be achieved through the design, conduct and analysis of large randomised trials in low and middle-income settings.
Publications
Ades AE
(2023)
Spontaneous Clearance of Vertically Acquired Hepatitis C Infection: Implications for Testing and Treatment.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Ades AE
(2023)
Overall Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus, Transmission Net of Clearance, and Timing of Transmission.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Arenas-Pinto A
(2022)
Learning and memory function in young people with and without perinatal HIV in England.
in PloS one
Arenas-Pinto A
(2022)
Learning and memory function in young people with and without perinatal HIV in England
in PLOS ONE
Arnold-Forster D
(2022)
Perceptions and Practicalities Influencing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in England.
in AIDS and behavior
Arrigoni FIF
(2023)
Impact of sub-optimal HIV viral control on activated T cells.
in AIDS (London, England)
Artenie A
(2023)
Incidence of HIV and hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs, and associations with age and sex or gender: a global systematic review and meta-analysis
in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC_UU_00004/01 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £5,186,000 | ||
| MC_UU_00004/02 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/01 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £4,446,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/03 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/02 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £4,999,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/04 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/03 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £5,315,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/05 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/04 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £3,107,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/06 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/05 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £2,889,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/07 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/06 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £2,369,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/08 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/07 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £2,270,000 |
| MC_UU_00004/09 | Transfer | MC_UU_00004/08 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2026 | £2,160,000 |
| Description | BHIVA/BASHH PrEP guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The preceding Position Statement, PROUD film roadshow and coordinated efforts by the Sexual Health Clinics and Community Organisations to raise awareness had already resulted in a decline in new HIV infections amongst men who have sex with men. However, the BHIVA/BASHH guidelines reached a wider audience particularly clinicians practising in more rural environments enabling them to feel more confident about prescribing. The guidelines were released whilst the PrEP Impact trial was recruiting and a considerable effort was made to raise awareness amongst key populations who had not participate in previous clinical research and were less aware of the benefits. The guidelines are undergoing an update and in 2022 there was an opportunity to address the challenge for PrEP users who have taken a break from their PrEP and have a risk at a time when there is no drug, or too little to be effective on board. The PrEP writing group accepted the importance of taking drug as soon as possible and therefore making use of the drug in hand. |
| URL | https://www.bhiva.org/file/5b729cd592060/2018-PrEP-Guidelines.pdf |
| Guideline Title | CDC Recommendations for Hepatitis C Testing Among Perinatally Exposed Infants and Children - United States, 2023 |
| Description | Citation in US clinical guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in clinical guidelines |
| URL | https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/rr/rr7204a1.htm |
| Description | Lock Lecture: "PrEP vs PEP Interface: Where are We Now?", HIV Glasgow Conference 25th Oct 2022 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Change in guidelines and policy will take time, as a clinical trial may be required - although there were no clinical trials to support the post-exposure guidance in the first place! As a consequence of the Lock Lecture in 2022 I was invited to give a Spotlight plenary at the STI & HIV 2023 World Congress in Chicago on the same topic, as well as talks at Kings College London and Mortimer Market Centre. In addition I was invited as an external expert to review the WHO update to their PEP guidelines. |
| Description | Membership of WHO Guidelines Development Group (GDG) for Treating and Preventing HIV Infection |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | WHO publishes new Consolidated HIV guidelines for prevention, treatment, service delivery & monitoring in July 2021. These recommendations intend to optimize HIV treatment monitoring, provide more options for HIV combination prevention and further harmonize ART for those initiating treatment for tuberculosis among coinfected individuals and for people being evaluated for rapid ART initiation, including same-day start. The implementation of these recommendations within the overall public health approach will support further reductions in HIV incidence and HIV-associated illness and death. |
| URL | https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240031593 |
| Guideline Title | CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES ON HIV PREVENTION, TESTING, TREATMENT, SERVICE DELIVERY AND MONITORING: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH |
| Description | ODYSSEY results discussed in WHO guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in clinical guidelines |
| URL | https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240031593 |
| Description | Operational Guidance on the implementation, standards, and monitoring of PrEP in the EU/EEA and UK |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
| Impact | The operational guidance was released in 2021 and is in use throughout the EU/EEA and UK |
| URL | https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/HIV-Pre-Exposure-Prophylaxis-in-the-EU-EEA-... |
| Description | Participation as invited speaker on ECDC's online training on Implementing PrEP operational guidance: from guidelines to practice |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Access to PrEP has become more efficient and increased as a consequence. |
| Description | Participation in the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) Guidelines |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | In 2016 only France had clear plans for a national PrEP programme, but it was possible for residents in UK and some other European member states to purchase generic PrEP from online pharmacy services at an affordable price and therefore guidelines for clinicians were essential. These have been reviewed every year since, but the first substantial revisions were released in 2023. |
| URL | https://www.eacsociety.org/media/guidelines_8.1-english.pdf |
| Description | Penta English and Russian courses in Paediatric HIV, hepatitis and congenital infections - online modules and tutorial support |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Penta training courses reach wide audiences of healthcare workers in Western and Eastern Europe and Central Asia providing medical care to children and adolescents living with HIV. |
| Description | Working group for Penta / EACS HIV guidelines, v 11.0 |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Inclusion of paediatric HIV guidelines in the adult European AIDS Clinical Society improved the access and visibility of paediatric HIV guidelines for healthcare workers and practitioners providing medical care to children and adolescents living with HIV. |
| URL | https://www.eacsociety.org/guidelines/eacs-guidelines/ |
| Description | Long-Acting Treatment in Adolescents (LATA) A randomised open-label 2-arm 96 week trial in virologically suppressed HIV-1-positive adolescents aged 12-19 years of age in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Amount | € 5,698,081 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | LATA_TMC278HTX3004-LATA-UCL-Pett |
| Organisation | Janssen Pharmaceutica NV |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 12/2021 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | Safety and effectiveness of dolutegravir in children and adolescents with HIV in Europe and Thailand: a European Pregnancy and Paediatric Infections Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) study proposal |
| Amount | € 2,005,380 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Viiv Healthcare |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2021 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | Safety and effectiveness of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) -based therapy in children and adolescents living with HIV in Eastern and Western Europe and Thailand: a European Pregnancy and Paediatric Infections Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) study |
| Amount | € 802,750 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Gilead Sciences, Inc. |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | Penta Scientific Steering Committee |
| Organisation | PENTA Foundation |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Ali Judd is co-chair of the Penta Scientific Steering Committee, which is comprised of the chairs of each of the Working Groups in Penta and which helps define and deliver the Penta Scientific Strategy for infections |
| Collaborator Contribution | Penta Foundation hosts this Committee and manages the Penta network |
| Impact | To emerge |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Title | European HIV Vaccine Alliance (EHVA) Prophylactic trial P01 |
| Description | EHVA P01 is evaluating a novel DNA replicon that acts as a vector to deliver a clade C HIV antigen at two different doses and in combination with a recombinant clade C protein. The two DREP combinations are compared to a standard HIV clade C DNA candidate combined with the same recombinant protein. Four research centres in UK and Europe are participating in this trial which is sponsored by the French government agency INSERM and coordinated by the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2024 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | Too early to say. |
| URL | https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/studies/all-studies/e/ehva-p01/ |
| Title | European HIV Vaccine Alliance (EHVA) Therapeutic trial T01 |
| Description | This therapeutic vaccine trial started but prior to the first participant who was enrolled receiving any medicinal product one of the companies providing product to the trial went into liquidation and it was necessary to close the trial prematurely. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
| Development Status | Closed |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| UKCRN/ISCTN Identifier | NCT02972450 |
| Impact | The design was novel and described in a publication in Lancet HIV Multi-arm, multi-stage randomised controlled trials for evaluating therapeutic HIV cure interventions. Moore et al, PMID 31047670. |
| Title | European HIV Vaccine Alliance (EHVA) Therapeutic trial T02 |
| Description | This therapeutic trial set out to evaluate vedolizumab with and without a modified vaccinia vector carrying an HIV clade B insert in individuals who started anti-retrovirals during primary or chronic infection. The schedule was long and intense, and the start of the trial was delayed by the COVID pandemic. Unfortunately there was insufficient time and capacity to enrol the target before the vaccine product expired and therefore the trial had to close with only 2 participants enrolled. They were followed for safety through to their last visit in 2023. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Vaccines |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2023 |
| Development Status | Closed |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | Although the trial had to close without enrolling a sufficient number of participant to address the questions, lessons were learnt, particularly from the parallel social science activities which informed the barriers to enrolment. Whilst there is considerable enthusiasm in cure research, the intensity of trial schedules limits the ability of the community to participate. |
| Description | CHAPAS-4 anchor drug infographic |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This infographic summarises the anchor drug results of CHAPAS-4. It was shared via the MRC CTU at UCL social media channels, website and briefing paper. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/media/2411/chapas-4-infographic-anchor.pdf |
| Description | CHAPAS-4 backbone drug infographic |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This infographic summarises the results of the backbone randomisation of CHAPAS-4. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/media/2410/chapas-4-infographic-backbone.pdf |
| Description | CHAPAS-4 results briefing paper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This briefing paper was shared confidentially with Ministries of Health in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda prior to the CHAPAS-4 results being released. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | CHAPAS-4 results poster for children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Working with Youth Trial Boards, we developed a poster summarising the results of the CHAPAS-4 trial. This has been translated into 6 languages. It has been shared with trial participants, and is displayed at clinics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/media/2489/chapas4results_english_a4_cmyk_3mmnobleed.pdf |
| Description | Invited to present as part of the NIHR Associate PI National Webinar series on Ethical Issues at Trial Closure |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | NIHR has initiated a series of webinars to build capacity amongst clinicians who are taking on the role of Associate Principal Investigator and who are interested in a career in clinical research. I was invited to participate in a webinar focused on trial closure covering the operational, ethical and good participatory practice issues to be considered. There was an engaging discussion after the panel of presentations and the webinar was recorded and available on the NIHR website for Associate PIs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Membership of the WHO Paediatric Antiretroviral Drug Optimisation (PADO) group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Providing expert opinion, related to development of new drugs/formulations for children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2021 |
| Description | Membership of the WHO Paediatric Antiretroviral Working Group (PAWG) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Providing expert opinion for the WHO Paediatric Antiretroviral Working Group (PAWG), related to prevention, treatment and development of new drugs for children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021 |
| Description | Membership of the WHO Paediatric Working Group on Viral Hepatitis (PWGH) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Providing expert opinion for the WHO Paediatric Working Group on Viral Hepatitis (PWGH), related to prevention, treatment and development of new drugs for children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| Description | NHS England Clinical Reference Group (HIV) Data Subgroup |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This Group is tasked with advising NHS England on issues arising concerning adult and paediatric HIV routine surveillance data collection, reporting and use for research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | NHS England Paediatric HIV Service Specification Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Membership of this Working Group, with pivotal role in developing paediatric HIV service metrics to measure clinic performance. These will be published in 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | ODYSSEY animated abstract |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This animation summarises the results of the main ODYSSEY paper, showing dolutegravir-based ART was superior to standard of care regimens for children living with HIV. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/618932932 |
| Description | ODYSSEY briefing paper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This briefing paper summarises the results of the ODYSSEY trial, and presents recommendations for policy and practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.mrcctu.ucl.ac.uk/media/2044/odyssey-briefing-paper-241121.pdf |
| Description | PK Day animation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | This animation explains what is involved in taking part in a pharmacokinetics study. It was developed with the Youth Trials Boards. It is available in several languages. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJgDc20-PEM |
| Description | Paediatric ARV Drug Optimization (PADO) 5th meeting: Invited talk on New Strategies to Optimise ARV Treatment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | PADO group is WHO-led international group of different stakeholders aimed to define antiretroviral drugs for medium and long-term development for children living with HIV. PADO group meetings are held every 1-2 years. The talk was a joint presentation with Dr Anton Pozniak on pros and cons for dual regimens, including injectable regimens, for treatment of HIV (with focus on LMICs). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Paediatric HIV & Hepatitis special theme day, the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM): Invited talk "Long-acting and dual agent antiretroviral regimens" 10 Sep 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented overview of evidence on dual treatment regimens in HIV for ART-initiation and maintenance, including updates on paediatric studies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Penta English and Russian courses in Paediatric HIV, hepatitis and congenital infections - preparation and update of online modules and tutorial support |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Incorporating latest evidence from the research studies, including those conducted by MRC CTU at UCL, in the interactive modules on Epidemiology and natural Infection; HIV: diagnosis, staging and role of co-infections and malignancy; Co-infections: Hepatitis and TB. Tutorial support during annually conducted courses. Lectures at the residential and virtual (from 2020) courses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021 |
| Description | Presentation to HIV Forum: The PrEPVac study: Update on registration cohorts, 9th Feb 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The purpose was to describe the PrEPVacc trial design (an efficacy trial to evaluate two different combination regimens of preventative HIV vaccines, and to compare Descovy PrEP to Truvada PrEP, and to report on the progress of the Registration Cohort which had started in May 2018 more than two years ahead of the trial. The group is particularly interested in evaluating PrEP in heterosexual cis-women. Truvada PrEP is considered the standard and if taken consistently is highly effective which makes non-inferiority designs unfeasible as the necessary events are rare and consequently the sample size has to be very large. An alternative approach is to determine what the rate of HIV would be in the absence of PrEP and the Registration Cohort provides some insight as PrEP was only available in some settings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/ethical-considerations-hiv-prevention-trials_... |
| Description | Support to European Member States on implementation and monitoring of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The intention of this activity is to support public health practitioners in the EU member states and UK nations to implement PrEP services and monitor them. Two workshops are planned, and a survey of the current status, gaps and needs. The goal is to produce guidance, based on evidence in the literature and expert opinion, that outlines multiple mechanisms for delivering and monitoring PrEP mapped to a range of epidemic patterns and healthcare settings so that member states can identify the most suitable mechanism to adopt. This activity was awarded as a tender from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The output was operational guidance for countries in the EU/EEA and UK with case examples to reflect the diversity of services for sexual health and PrEP. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/ecdc-releases-operational-guidance-HIV-PrEP-eueea-uk |
| Description | World AIDS Day podcast: Bringing hope through research to young people living with HIV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In the second of our World AIDS Day episodes, we highlight the important role that young people living with HIV play in research, by shaping clinical trials to better serve the needs of their community. This episode features Lungile Jafta, who works closely with young people through Penta's youth engagement programmes, and Gugu, a former Youth Trials Board member from South Africa who is living with HIV. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/trial-talk-podcast/world-aids-day-part-2-bringing-hope-through-research-to-yo... |
| Description | World AIDS Day podcast: Closing the gap between adults and children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In the first of our World AIDS Day episodes, Dr Anna Turkova, Clinical Principal Research Fellow at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, and Philippa Musoke, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University, explore the reasons for these disparities and how the MRC CTU at UCL is working to close the gap between adults and children through clinical trials. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/trial-talk-podcast/world-aids-day-part-1-closing-the-gap-between-adults-and-c... |