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Earl J, Dawson L, Rid A. The Social Value Misconception in Clinical Research. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2024:1-17. [PMID: 39007856 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2024.2371119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Clinical researchers should help respect the autonomy and promote the well-being of prospective study participants by helping them make voluntary, informed decisions about enrollment. However, participants often exhibit poor understanding of important information about clinical research. Bioethicists have given special attention to "misconceptions" about clinical research that can compromise participants' decision-making, most notably the "therapeutic misconception." These misconceptions typically involve false beliefs about a study's purpose, or risks or potential benefits for participants. In this article, we describe a misconception involving false beliefs about a study's potential benefits for non-participants, or its expected social value. This social value misconception can compromise altruistically motivated participants' decision-making, potentially threatening their autonomy and well-being. We show how the social value misconception raises ethical concerns for inherently low-value research, hyped research, and even ordinary research, and advocate for empirical and normative work to help understand and counteract this misconception's potential negative impacts on participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Earl
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
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Naidoo K, Montgomery ET, Katz AWK, Garcia M, Naidoo S, Mansoor LE. Women's motivations for participating in the dapivirine vaginal ring open label extension study. AIDS Care 2024; 36:326-342. [PMID: 37734338 PMCID: PMC10922482 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2260145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Open-Label Extension (OLE) studies are important in the drug development process and are used to further support the licensing applications and regulatory approvals of products. We aimed to understand why women chose to join the HOPE OLE study - where women were offered the dapivirine vaginal ring after two pivotal trials were completed - through data collected from individual in-depth interviews. Ten women at each of the six HOPE research sites in Lilongwe, Malawi; Durban (2 sites) and Johannesburg, South Africa; Kampala, Uganda; and Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, were enrolled (n = 60). Access to an effective user-initiated HIV prevention product was one of the main reasons women joined HOPE. Although many participants worried that their male partners might expose them to HIV, they chose to remain in their relationships and avoid conflict or confrontation with their partners by discreetly using the ring to protect themselves. Other reasons for joining were quality healthcare, reimbursement and altruism. Researchers should better understand social and personal motivators behind research participation in order to recognize community sociocultural norms and its influences on product acceptability and adherence challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalendri Naidoo
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth T. Montgomery
- Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Ariana W. K. Katz
- Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Morgan Garcia
- Global Health Population and Nutrition, FHI 360, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Sarita Naidoo
- HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa (Present affiliation: The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa)
| | - Leila E. Mansoor
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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3
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Ndukwe SO, Patel H, Shelton B, Concha-Garcia S, Dullano C, Solso S, Hendrickx S, Riggs PK, Villa TJ, Kaytes A, Taylor J, Little SJ, Lessard D, Arora AK, Costiniuk CT, Eskaf S, Smith DM, Gianella S, Dubé K. People with HIV at the end-of-life and their next-of-kin/loved ones are willing to participate in interventional HIV cure-related research. AIDS 2024; 38:235-243. [PMID: 37861674 PMCID: PMC10842373 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Last Gift study at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), United States enrolls terminally ill people with HIV (PWH) in HIV cure research. METHODS From 2017 to 2022, we conducted surveys with Last Gift participants and their next-of-kin/loved ones to evaluate willingness to participate in different types of HIV cure research at the end of life (EOL). We analyzed willingness data descriptively. RESULTS We surveyed 17 Last Gift participants and 17 next-of-kin/loved ones. More than half of Last Gift participants ( n = 10; 58.8%) expressed willingness to participate in studies involving totally new treatments or approaches ('first-in-human' studies), a combination of different approaches, the use of unique antibodies, proteins or molecules, or therapeutic vaccines. Under one-quarter of Last Gift participants ( n = 4; 23.5%) expressed willingness to participate in research involving interventions that may shorten their life expectancy to benefit medical research. Most Last Gift participants and their next-of-kin/loved ones also expressed high acceptance for various types of donations and biopsies at the EOL (e.g. hair donations and skin, lymph node or gut biopsies). DISCUSSION Knowing whether people would be willing to participate in different types of EOL HIV cure research can help inform the design of future innovative studies. As a research community, we have a duty to design studies with adequate safeguards to preserve the public trust in research and honor PWH's important gift to humanity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel O. Ndukwe
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hursch Patel
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brittany Shelton
- Department of Public Health, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Susanna Concha-Garcia
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Cheryl Dullano
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Solso
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Steven Hendrickx
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Patricia K. Riggs
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
| | - Thomas J. Villa
- HIV Obstruction by Programmed Epigenetics (HOPE) Collaboratory Community Advisory Board, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Andy Kaytes
- UCSD Antiviral Research Center Community Advisory Board, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- UCSD Antiviral Research Center Community Advisory Board, San Diego, CA, USA
- HIV + Aging Research Project Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, CA, USA
| | - Susan J. Little
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - David Lessard
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University Health Center (MUCH), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Mentorship Chair in Innovative Clinical Trials, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Center for Outcome Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anish K. Arora
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Mentorship Chair in Innovative Clinical Trials, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Center for Outcome Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cecilia T. Costiniuk
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University Health Center (MUCH), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Shadi Eskaf
- Public Health Research Consultant, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Davey M. Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sara Gianella
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- Antiviral Research Center (AVRC), University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), CA, USA
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Dubé K, Ndukwe SO, Korolkova A, Dee L, Sugarman J, Sauceda JA. Participant experiences in a combination HIV cure-related trial with extended analytical treatment interruption in San Francisco, United States. HIV Res Clin Pract 2024; 25:2312318. [PMID: 38348830 PMCID: PMC10951555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited systematic information available about the perspectives of participants enrolled in intensive combination HIV cure-related trials inclusive of an extended analytical treatment interruption (ATI). OBJECTIVE To assess and understand experiences of people with HIV involved in a combination HIV cure-related trial with an extended ATI. METHODS The trial included five interventions and was followed by an ATI lasting up to 52 wk. From 2022 - 2023, we conducted in-depth interviews with study participants following their extended ATIs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed via conventional thematic analysis. RESULTS We interviewed seven participants. The majority were male, White, and non-Hispanic, with a median age of 37 years. Trust in the research team, scientific altruism and hope of becoming a post-intervention controller were key motivators for joining the trial. Interviewees reported being satisfied with their decision to participate in the trial and the extended ATI. Most recounted feelings of worry related to viral rebound during the ATI. Participants reported both defeat and relief with ART restart. Four faced challenges with protecting partners from HIV during their ATI, such as trying to find out if their partner(s) were using pre-exposure prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate potential improvements for future ATI trial participant experiences, such as more robust resources for psychosocial support and partner protections. Dedicating greater effort to understanding participant ATI experiences can inform the design of future participant-centered HIV cure trial protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Dubé
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health
(IDGPH), Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La
Jolla, CA, USA
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Samuel O. Ndukwe
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health
(IDGPH), Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La
Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ana Korolkova
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health
(IDGPH), Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La
Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lynda Dee
- AIDS Action Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) Community
Engagement Coordinator, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Sugarman
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics, Baltimore,
MD, USA
| | - John A. Sauceda
- Division of Prevention Science, Center for AIDS Prevention
Studies (CAPS), San Francisco, CA, USA
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Rao E, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Concha-Garcia S, Riggs PK, Smith DM, Dubé K, Gianella S. Vulnerability in Biomedical Research: A Historical Reflection and Practical Implications for HIV Cure-Related Research. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2024; 40:22-27. [PMID: 37227023 PMCID: PMC10790546 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2022.0136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The concept of vulnerability in bioethics was first referenced in 1979, when the Belmont Report highlighted the need for special consideration of certain populations in the application of its general principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice in research with human participants. Since then, a body of literature has emerged regarding the content, status, and scope, as well as ethical and practical implications of vulnerability in biomedical research. The social history of HIV treatment development has at various points reflected and actively influenced bioethics' debate on vulnerability. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, people with AIDS activist groups drafted landmark patient empowerment manifestos like The Denver Principles, fighting to have greater involvement in the design and oversight of clinical trials related to HIV treatment, and in doing so, pushed against research ethics protocols created with the intention of protecting vulnerable populations. The determination of appropriate benefit/risk profiles in clinical trials was no longer limited to the purview of clinicians and scientists, but began to include the perspectives of people with HIV (PWH) and affected communities. In contemporary HIV cure-related research, where participants often risk health for no personal clinical benefit, the community's voiced motivations and objectives for participation continue to challenge population-based accounts of vulnerability. While the development of a framework for discussion and the establishment of clear regulatory requirements are necessary to support the practical and ethical conduct of research, they risk distraction from the fundamental value of voluntary participation and potentially overlook the unique history and perspectives of PWH in their participation in the quest toward an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rao
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) Community Advisory Board (CAB), UCSD, San Diego, California, USA
- HIV+Aging Research Project-Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, California, USA
- RID-HIV Delaney Collaboratory, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Andy Kaytes
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) Community Advisory Board (CAB), UCSD, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Susanna Concha-Garcia
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP), California NeuroAIDS Tissue Network, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Patricia K. Riggs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Davey M. Smith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- RID-HIV Delaney Collaboratory, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sara Gianella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, UCSD, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Mohtashemi N, Dubé K, Thio C, Song S, Patel S, Sugarman J, Bhattacharya D. Patient acceptability of, and attitudes towards, hepatitis B cure research - A scoping review and identification of knowledge gaps. J Virus Erad 2023; 9:100354. [PMID: 38161322 PMCID: PMC10755539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional cure, defined as durable loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA suppression off therapy, is an increasingly important goal in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Although novel treatments aimed at achieving functional cure are being developed and tested in clinical trials, it is important to assess the perspectives of people living with HBV towards these potential treatments and their participation in HBV functional cure research. We have performed a scoping review that revealed that there is limited knowledge regarding patient perspectives of HBV functional cure research and then identified gaps in knowledge for further investigation. Our work highlights the need for further studies in patient perspectives in HBV functional cure research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karine Dubé
- University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chloe Thio
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sihyeong Song
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shail Patel
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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7
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Noorman MAJ, de Wit JBF, Marcos TA, Stutterheim SE, Jonas KJ, den Daas C. The Importance of Social Engagement in the Development of an HIV Cure: A Systematic Review of Stakeholder Perspectives. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:3789-3812. [PMID: 37329470 PMCID: PMC10589186 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04095-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
As research into the development of an HIV cure gains prominence, assessing the perspectives of stakeholders becomes imperative. It empowers stakeholders to determine priorities and influence research processes. We conducted a systematic review of the empirical literature on stakeholder perspectives. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for empirical, peer-reviewed articles, published before September 2022. Our analysis of 78 papers showed that stakeholders could be divided into three categories: people with HIV, key populations, and professionals. Following thematic synthesis, two main themes were distinguished: stakeholders' perspectives on HIV cure research and stakeholders' perspectives on HIV cure. Research on perspectives on HIV cure research showed that stakeholders' hypothetical willingness to participate (WTP) in HIV cure research was relatively high, while actual WTP was found to be lower. Studies also identified associated (individual) characteristics of hypothetical WTP, as well as facilitators and barriers to hypothetical participation. Additionally, we reported research on experiences of actual HIV cure research participation. Our analysis of stakeholder perceptions of HIV cure showed that most stakeholders preferred a cure that could eliminate HIV and outlined positive associated impacts. Furthermore, we observed that most included studies were conducted among PWHIV, and in the Global North. To empower stakeholders, we recommend that future research include an even greater diversity of stakeholders and incorporate theories of behavior to further explore how stakeholders decide to meaningfully engage in every stage of HIV cure research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike A J Noorman
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - John B F de Wit
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, PO Box 80140, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tamika A Marcos
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah E Stutterheim
- Department of Health Promotion and Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kai J Jonas
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal den Daas
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Health Psychology Group, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Dubé K, Villa TJ, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Moore DJ, Little SJ, Chaillon A, Smith DM, Gianella S. A Community-Driven Framework to Prioritize the Use of Donated Human Biological Materials in the Context of HIV Cure-Related Research at the End of Life. Pathog Immun 2023; 8:1-16. [PMID: 37252012 PMCID: PMC10225111 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v8i1.583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiated in 2017 after extensive community engagement, the Last Gift program enrolls altruistic volunteers willing to donate their cells and tissues at the end of life to allow studies on HIV reservoir dynamics across anatomical sites. As the Last Gift team received tissue requests outside the scope of HIV cure research, we noticed the absence of guiding frameworks to help prioritize the use of altruistically donated human biological materials. In this commentary, we present a proposed framework for prioritizing the use of donated human biological materials within and outside the end-of-life (EOL) HIV cure research context, using the Last Gift study as an example. First, we discuss regulatory and policy considerations, and highlight key ethical values to guide prioritization decisions. Second, we present our prioritization framework and share some of our experiences prioritizing requests for donated human biological materials within and outside EOL HIV cure research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Dubé
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
- Health Policy and Management, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Thomas J. Villa
- HIV Obstruction by Programmed Epigenetics Delaney Collaboratory Community Team, San Francisco, CA
- Reversing Immune Dysfunction Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research Community Advisory Board, La Jolla, CA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- Reversing Immune Dysfunction Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research Community Advisory Board, La Jolla, CA
- HIV + Aging Research Project – Palm Springs, Palm Springs, CA
- AntiViral Research Center Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Andy Kaytes
- Reversing Immune Dysfunction Delaney Collaboratory for HIV Cure Research Community Advisory Board, La Jolla, CA
- AntiViral Research Center Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - David J. Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Susan J. Little
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Antoine Chaillon
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Davey M. Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Sara Gianella
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- AntiViral Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
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Riggs PK, Chaillon A, Jiang G, Letendre SL, Tang Y, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Smith DM, Dubé K, Gianella S. Lessons for Understanding Central Nervous System HIV Reservoirs from the Last Gift Program. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2022; 19:566-579. [PMID: 36260191 PMCID: PMC9580451 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-022-00628-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Deep tissue HIV reservoirs, especially within the central nervous system (CNS), are understudied due to the challenges of sampling brain, spinal cord, and other tissues. Understanding the cellular characteristics and viral dynamics in CNS reservoirs is critical so that HIV cure trials can address them and monitor the direct and indirect effects of interventions. The Last Gift program was developed to address these needs by enrolling altruistic people with HIV (PWH) at the end of life who agree to rapid research autopsy. RECENT FINDINGS Recent findings from the Last Gift emphasize significant heterogeneity across CNS reservoirs, CNS compartmentalization including differential sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibodies, and bidirectional migration of HIV across the blood-brain barrier. Our findings add support for the potential of CNS reservoirs to be a source of rebounding viruses and reseeding of systemic sites if they are not targeted by cure strategies. This review highlights important scientific, practical, and ethical lessons learned from the Last Gift program in the context of recent advances in understanding the CNS reservoirs and key knowledge gaps in current research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Guochun Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, UNC HIV Cure Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Yuyang Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, UNC HIV Cure Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- HIV + Aging Research Project - Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Kaytes
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Karine Dubé
- Department of Medicine, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
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10
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Baffoe-Bonnie MS. Lived experience with sickle cell disease: Predictors of altruistic participation in clinical research. Soc Sci Med 2022; 313:115353. [PMID: 36191388 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have found that research altruism motivates research participation, but little is known about what aspects of lived experience motivate this socially focused altruistic participation when participation emerges at the intersection of illness, identity, and injustice. This study examines adults living with sickle cell disease (n = 235) in the United States enrolled in the INSIGHTS clinical research study to investigate what aspects of the sickle cell disease lived experience, understood here as pain and illness perception, are associated with reporting subsidiary and primary altruistic motivations for participating in clinical research. Results from two binary logistic regressions indicate that pain frequency is positively associated with greater odds of reporting subsidiary altruistic motivations, and pain frequency and pain severity are positively associated with greater odds of citing primary altruistic motivations. Conversely, pain interference and illness perception are associated with lower odds of reporting primary altruistic motivations. These results reveal that for this racialized population, participation, although overwhelmingly altruistic, is rooted in an experience of persistent pain. Researchers must disentangle measures of lived experience in order to better understand what factors underlie and prevent participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn S Baffoe-Bonnie
- Rutgers University Department of Sociology, USA; National Institutes of Health Department of Bioethics, USA; National Human Genome Research Institute, Social and Behavioral Research Branch, Health Disparities Unit, USA.
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11
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Neergaard R, Jones NL, Roebuck C, Rendle KA, Barbati Z, Peterson B, Tebas P, Mounzer K, Metzger D, Montaner LJ, Dube K, Barg FK. "I know that I was a part of making a difference": Participant motivations for joining a cure-directed HIV trial with an analytical treatment interruption. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2022. [PMID: 35979886 PMCID: PMC10389247 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2022.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Analytical treatment interruption (ATI), defined as a closely monitored clinical pause in antiretroviral therapy, is a core component of many HIV cure-directed clinical studies. ATIs may cause significant physical and psychosocial risks for people living with HIV and, as a result, integrating participant and community perspectives into clinical trial designs that include an ATI is crucial to ensuring a successful and person-centered trial. We conducted semi-structured interviews with participants enrolling in the BEAT-2 cure-directed trial (NCT03588715). Interviews elicited participant motivations and decision-making processes for trial participation as well as participants' perceptions of the ATI. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a directed content analysis. Fourteen of 15 trial participants completed interviews. The majority were Black (79%) cisgender male (79%). Participants noted several significant motivating factors contributing to their desire to enroll in the HIV cure-directed clinical trial, the most prominent being a desire to find a cure for HIV and help others in the HIV community. HIV care teams were the most commonly identified resource for patients when making the decision to enroll in the trial, and family, friends, and romantic partners also played a significant role. Altruism was a primary motivation for participation, although participants also shared interest in learning about HIV science and research. Participants had a strong understanding of trial procedures and displayed significant trust in the study team to keep them informed and healthy during their participation. The ATI was a significant source of anxiety for participants. Their primary worry was that their prior antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimen would no longer be effective once they resumed ART. Despite these concerns, participants shared considerable excitement for continued participation in the trial and being a part of the search towards an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Neergaard
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Nora L Jones
- Temple University, Center for Urban Bioethics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.,Wistar Institute, BEAT-HIV Collaboratory Community Advisory Board (CAB), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Christopher Roebuck
- University of California Berkeley, Anthropology, Berkeley, California, United States.,Wistar Institute, BEAT-HIV Collaboratory Community Advisory Board (CAB), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Katharine A Rendle
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Zoe Barbati
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Beth Peterson
- Wistar Institute, Martin Delaney BEAT-HIV Collaboratory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Pablo Tebas
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - Karam Mounzer
- University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
| | - David Metzger
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Psychiatry, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104;
| | - Luis J Montaner
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104;
| | - Karine Dube
- UNC Gillings School of Global Health Health, Public Health Leadership Program, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27516;
| | - Frances K Barg
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Family Medicine and Community Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States;
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12
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Exploring the Impacts of Preventative Health Behaviors with Respect to COVID-19: An Altruistic Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137573. [PMID: 35805228 PMCID: PMC9265907 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the impact of gender and anxiety on various preventative health behaviors, and the relationships among these preventative health behaviors, individual well-being and depression, from the perspective of altruism. This study employed an online questionnaire survey, and 136 males and 204 females participated in the survey. The results of this study showed that females exhibited better preventative health behaviors than males, including hygiene habits, social distancing and behaviors intended to help others mitigate the epidemic. Anxiety regarding COVID-19 infection encouraged individuals to adopt hygienic habits and social distancing measures rather than to help others mitigate the epidemic. Hygiene habits improved the individual’s psychological well-being. Helping others mitigate the epidemic improved the individual’s psychological well-being and social well-being and contributed to reducing individual depression. However, the preventative health behavior involved in social distancing was not conducive to emotional well-being or social well-being. Affective elements are related to individual behaviors. Therefore, the use of prosocial, altruistic language may play an important role with respect to encouraging people to comply with preventative health behaviors in the context of COVID-19. In addition, it is worth noting that different preventative health behaviors may have different effects on people’s mental health, especially when implementing social distancing-related epidemic mitigation behaviors. The question of how to prevent negative psychological effects in restricted actors must be answered, and the degree of life satisfaction experienced by those actors must also be taken into account.
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13
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Otufowora AA, Striley CW, Vaddiparti K, Scicchitano MJ, Cottler LB. Study Navigation and Enrollment in a Community Sample: Does Generational Cohort Matter? JOURNAL OF INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS 2022; 21:299-320. [PMID: 37724159 PMCID: PMC10506841 DOI: 10.1080/15350770.2022.2041526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The socioecological model (SEM) was used as a conceptual framework to examine the effect of generational cohorts on study navigation and enrollment in health research. The study population was 7,370 community-dwelling Gen Xers and Baby Boomers in North Central Florida. Analyses found that Leading-edge Boomers (individuals born between 1946 and 1955) [vs Gen Xers (individuals born between 1965 and 1955)] and individuals with higher trust (vs lower trust) were 41% and 25% respectively more likely to be enrolled in health research compared to their counterparts, controlling for factors at the individual, relationship, and community levels of the SEM. We conclude the study with a summary of the findings and the recruitment implications for study enrollment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine W Striley
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Krishna Vaddiparti
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Linda B Cottler
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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14
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Kanazawa J, Gianella S, Concha-Garcia S, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Christensen C, Patel H, Ndukwe S, Rawlings SA, Hendrickx S, Little S, Brown B, Smith D, Dubé K. Ethical and practical considerations for HIV cure-related research at the end-of-life: a qualitative interview and focus group study in the United States. BMC Med Ethics 2022; 23:2. [PMID: 35012544 PMCID: PMC8748179 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-022-00741-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the next frontiers in HIV research is focused on finding a cure. A new priority includes people with HIV (PWH) with non-AIDS terminal illnesses who are willing to donate their bodies at the end-of-life (EOL) to advance the search towards an HIV cure. We endeavored to understand perceptions of this research and to identify ethical and practical considerations relevant to implementing it. METHODS We conducted 20 in-depth interviews and 3 virtual focus groups among four types of key stakeholders in the United States (PWH, biomedical HIV cure researchers, HIV clinicians, and bioethicists) to obtain triangulated viewpoints because little was known about the ethics of this topic. Each group was queried as to ethical considerations, safeguards, and protections for conducting HIV cure-related research at the EOL to ensure this research remains acceptable. RESULTS All four key stakeholder groups generally supported HIV cure-related research conducted at the EOL because of the history of altruism within the PWH community and the potential for substantial scientific knowledge to be gained. Our informants expressed that: (1) Strong stakeholder and community involvement are integral to the ethical and effective implementation, as well as the social acceptability of this research; (2) PWH approaching the EOL should not inherently be considered a vulnerable class and their autonomy must be respected when choosing to participate in HIV cure-related research at the EOL; (3) Greater diversity among study participants, as well as multi-disciplinary research teams, is necessitated by HIV cure-related research at the EOL; (4) The sensitive nature of this research warrants robust oversight to ensure a favorable risk/benefit balance and to minimize the possibility of therapeutic misconception or undue influence; and (5) Research protocols should remain flexible to accommodate participants' comfort and needs at the EOL. CONCLUSION Because of the ethical issues presented by HIV cure-related research at the EOL, robust ethical safeguards are of utmost importance. The proposed ethical and practical considerations presented herein is a first step in determining the best way to maximize this research's impact and social value. More much inquiry will need to be directed towards understanding context-specific and cultural considerations for implementing EOL HIV cure research in diverse settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kanazawa
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Sara Gianella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Susanna Concha-Garcia
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP), California NeuroAIDS Tissue Network, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickson Street, Suite B, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- AVRC Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
- HIV + Aging Research Project – Palm Springs (HARP-PS), 1775 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110-349, Palm Springs, CA USA
| | - Andy Kaytes
- AVRC Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Christopher Christensen
- HIV + Aging Research Project – Palm Springs (HARP-PS), 1775 Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110-349, Palm Springs, CA USA
| | - Hursch Patel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Samuel Ndukwe
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Stephen A. Rawlings
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Steven Hendrickx
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Susan Little
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Brandon Brown
- Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health, Center for Healthy Communities, University of California, Riverside, 3333 14th Street, Riverside, CA USA
| | - Davey Smith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, 220 Dickinson Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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15
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Gilles I, Lesage S, Barbieux C, Alessandrini M, Jackson-Perry D, Vittoz L, Peytremann-Bridevaux I, Calmy A. Brief Report: Representations and Willingness of People Living With HIV in Switzerland to Participate in HIV Cure Trials: The Case of Gene-Modified Cell Therapies. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 87:1154-1160. [PMID: 34229328 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent advances made in cell and gene therapies for cancer suggest that they represent plausible strategies to cure HIV. However, the health risks and constraints associated with these therapies require a deeper understanding of the expectations of such treatments among people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS We conducted 15 semistructured in-depth interviews among patients from 2 HIV units in Switzerland. After a conversation about their perceptions of research on HIV therapies, participants were provided with a trial description using a gene-modified cell therapy as a potentially curative approach. They were invited to discuss how they might consider participation in the trial. Content analysis was performed to identify core themes. RESULTS Participants perceived the trial as burdensome and uncertain. Most were aware that cure was not guaranteed, and 6 of the 15 considered that they would participate. Two main concerns were expressed about potential participation: (1) the impact on the professional life and fear to be stigmatized because of this and (2) the fact that stopping antiretroviral treatment would challenge the balance currently achieved in their lives. The decision to participate would depend on their understanding of the trial, the availability of sufficient information, and the relationship with health care professionals. CONCLUSION Involving PLWH in early stages of research would be crucial to improve their understanding of gene-modified cell therapies. It could also help adapt trials to address key factors, including the anticipation of stigma, which may discourage PLWH from participating in treatment research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Gilles
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Saphir Lesage
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Barbieux
- HIV/AIDS Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marco Alessandrini
- Department of Pathology and Immunology (PATIM), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; and
| | - David Jackson-Perry
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Vittoz
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Peytremann-Bridevaux
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Calmy
- HIV/AIDS Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Kanazawa J, Gianella S, Concha-Garcia S, Taylor J, Kaytes A, Christensen C, Patel H, Ndukwe S, Rawlings S, Hendrickx S, Little S, Brown B, Smith D, Dubé K. Ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the end-of-life: A qualitative study with key stakeholders in the United States. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254148. [PMID: 34270612 PMCID: PMC8284787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A unique window of opportunity currently exists to generate ethical and practical considerations presented by interventional HIV cure-related research at the end-of-life (EOL). Because participants would enroll in these studies for almost completely altruistic reasons, they are owed the highest ethical standards, safeguards, and protections. This qualitative empirical ethics study sought to identify ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL. Methods and findings We conducted 20 in-depth interviews and three virtual focus groups (N = 36) with four key stakeholder groups in the United States: 1) bioethicists, 2) people with HIV, 3) HIV care providers, and 4) HIV cure researchers. This study produced six key themes to guide the ethical implementation of interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL: 1) all stakeholder groups supported this research conditioned upon a clearly delineated respect for participant contribution and autonomy, participant understanding and comprehension of the risks associated with the specific intervention(s) to be tested, and broad community support for testing of the proposed intervention(s); 2) to ensure acceptable benefit-risk profiles, researchers should focus on limiting the risks of unintended effects and minimizing undue pain and suffering at the EOL; 3) only well-vetted interventions that are supported by solid pre-clinical data should be tested in the EOL translational research model; 4) the informed consent process must be robust and include process consent; 5) research protocols should be flexible and adopt a patient/participant centered approach to minimize burdens and ensure their overall comfort and safety; and 6) a participant’s next-of-kin/loved ones should be a major focus of EOL research but only if the participant consents to such involvement. Conclusions To our knowledge, this empirical ethics study generated the first ethical and practical considerations for interventional HIV cure-related research at the EOL. The ethical complexities of such research must be considered now. We must navigate this ethical conundrum so that we are good stewards of the participants’ extremely altruistic gifts by maximizing the impact and social value of this research. We hope that this study will serve as the foundation for future research and discussion on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Kanazawa
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Sara Gianella
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Susanna Concha-Garcia
- HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP), California NeuroAIDS Tissue Network, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Jeff Taylor
- AVRC Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- HIV + Aging Research Project–Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, California, United States of America
| | - Andy Kaytes
- AVRC Community Advisory Board, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Christensen
- HIV + Aging Research Project–Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, California, United States of America
| | - Hursch Patel
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Samuel Ndukwe
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Stephen Rawlings
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Hendrickx
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Susan Little
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Brandon Brown
- Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health, Center for Healthy Communities, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Davey Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- AntiViral Research Center (AVRC), University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Karine Dubé
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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17
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Dubé K, Kanazawa J, Taylor J, Dee L, Jones N, Roebuck C, Sylla L, Louella M, Kosmyna J, Kelly D, Clanton O, Palm D, Campbell DM, Onaiwu MG, Patel H, Ndukwe S, Henley L, Johnson MO, Saberi P, Brown B, Sauceda JA, Sugarman J. Ethics of HIV cure research: an unfinished agenda. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:83. [PMID: 34193141 PMCID: PMC8243312 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pursuit of a cure for HIV is a high priority for researchers, funding agencies, governments and people living with HIV (PLWH). To date, over 250 biomedical studies worldwide are or have been related to discovering a safe, effective, and scalable HIV cure, most of which are early translational research and experimental medicine. As HIV cure research increases, it is critical to identify and address the ethical challenges posed by this research. Methods We conducted a scoping review of the growing HIV cure research ethics literature, focusing on articles published in English peer-reviewed journals from 2013 to 2021. We extracted and summarized key developments in the ethics of HIV cure research. Twelve community advocates actively engaged in HIV cure research provided input on this summary and suggested areas warranting further ethical inquiry and foresight via email exchange and video conferencing. Discussion Despite substantial scholarship related to the ethics of HIV cure research, additional attention should focus on emerging issues in six categories of ethical issues: (1) social value (ongoing and emerging biomedical research and scalability considerations); (2) scientific validity (study design issues, such as the use of analytical treatment interruptions and placebos); (3) fair selection of participants (equity and justice considerations); (4) favorable benefit/risk balance (early phase research, benefit-risk balance, risk perception, psychological risks, and pediatric research); (5) informed consent (attention to language, decision-making, informed consent processes and scientific uncertainty); and (6) respect for enrolled participants and community (perspectives of people living with HIV and affected communities and representation). Conclusion HIV cure research ethics has an unfinished agenda. Scientific research and bioethics should work in tandem to advance ethical HIV cure research. Because the science of HIV cure research will continue to rapidly advance, ethical considerations of the major themes we identified will need to be revisited and refined over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Dubé
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7469, USA.
| | - John Kanazawa
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7469, USA
| | - Jeff Taylor
- HIV + Aging Research Project - Palm Springs (HARP-PS), Palm Springs, CA, USA.,AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) Community Advisory Board (CAB), San Diego, CA, USA.,Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE) CAB, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lynda Dee
- AIDS Action Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) Community Advisory Board (CAB), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nora Jones
- BEAT-HIV Collaboratory CAB, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jan Kosmyna
- AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Community Scientific Subcommittee (CSS) Ethics Working Group, Nationwide, USA
| | - David Kelly
- AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Community Scientific Subcommittee (CSS) Ethics Working Group, Nationwide, USA
| | - Orbit Clanton
- AIDS Clinical Trials Group Global CAB, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - David Palm
- Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE) CAB, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases HIV Treatment and Prevention CAB, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Danielle M Campbell
- Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) Community Advisory Board (CAB), San Francisco, CA, USA.,Charles R. Drew College of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
- AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Community Scientific Subcommittee (CSS) Ethics Working Group, Nationwide, USA.,Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality (School of Humanities), Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hursch Patel
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7469, USA
| | - Samuel Ndukwe
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7469, USA
| | - Laney Henley
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 4108 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7469, USA
| | - Mallory O Johnson
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), Division of Prevention Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Parya Saberi
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), Division of Prevention Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brandon Brown
- Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health, Center for Healthy Communities, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - John A Sauceda
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), Division of Prevention Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Sugarman
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute for Bioethics, Baltimore, MD, USA
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