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Bilger A, Plenn E, Barg FK, Rendle KA, Carter WB, Lamour-Harrington A, Jones N, Peterson B, Sauceda JA, Tebas P, Mounzer K, Metzger D, Montaner LJ, Dubé K. Participant experiences in HIV cure-directed trial with an extended analytical treatment interruption in Philadelphia, United States. HIV Res Clin Pract 2023; 24:2267825. [PMID: 37837376 PMCID: PMC10634456] [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: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A feature of HIV cure trials is the need to interrupt treatment to test the efficacy of experimental interventions-a process known as analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs). OBJECTIVES We report the experiences of participants after they completed an extended ATI. METHODS From April to November 2022, we conducted post-ATI in-depth interviews with BEAT2 clinical trial (NCT03588715) participants who stopped ART while receiving an immunotherapy regimen. We used conventional content analysis to code the data. RESULTS We conducted interviews with 11 Black/African American and three White/Caucasian participants (11 males, two females, and one transgender woman). The mean ATI was 38 weeks. Participants noted several significant experiences surrounding the interventions' side effects, ATI, and returning to medication. Some participants had positive experiences with their ATI. Other participants were nervous during the ATI. Rising viral loads led some to feel a sense of failure. Although trial experiences were heterogeneous, participants unanimously had positive interactions with the clinical trial staff which facilitated their retention in the trial. Participants shared their experiences with the trial, including changes in expectations, experiences with experimental interventions and procedures, compensation as a measure of respect, effort, transportation, and effects of COVID-19 during the trial. Based on these results, we provide considerations for the conduct of future HIV cure-directed clinical trials involving ATIs. CONCLUSIONS Managing expectations, focusing on participants' contributions, and providing support to reduce feelings of having failed the research team and/or the HIV community following viral rebound should be part of HIV cure trial design. Discussing the mental health impact of rebound during consent, distinct from risk, is needed. Continued efforts to understand how people with HIV experience ATIs will improve future designs of HIV cure clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bilger
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Eion Plenn
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Frances K. Barg
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Katharine A. Rendle
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - William B. Carter
- BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory Community Advisory Board, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Nora Jones
- BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory Community Advisory Board, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - John A. Sauceda
- Division of Prevention Sciences, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pablo Tebas
- Hospital of the University of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Karam Mounzer
- Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David Metzger
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | | | - Karine Dubé
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kreider EF, Ortega-Burgos Y, Dumeng-Rodriguez J, Gesualdi J, O’Brien C, Bracy D, Johnson J, Bowman J, Metzger D, Dine CJ, Favor K, Jordan-Sciutto KL, Momplaisir F. Early Engagement in HIV Research: Evaluation of the Penn CFAR Scholars Program Aimed at Increasing Diversity of the HIV/AIDS Workforce. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 94:S28-S35. [PMID: 37707845 PMCID: PMC10754256 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003260] [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: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Demographic diversity is not represented in the HIV/AIDS workforce. Engagement of underrepresented trainees as early as high school may address this disparity. METHODS We established the Penn Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Scholars Program, a mentored research experience for underrepresented minority (URM) trainees spanning educational stages from high school to medical school. The program provides participants with tailored educational programming, professional skill building, and mentored research experiences. We conducted qualitative interviews with scholar, mentor, and leadership groups to evaluate the program's impact. RESULTS Eleven participants were selected to partake in 1 of 5 existing mentored research programs as CFAR scholars. Scholars attended an 8-week HIV Seminar Series that covered concepts in the basic, clinical, behavioral, and community-based HIV/AIDS research. Program evaluation revealed that scholars' knowledge of HIV pathophysiology and community impact increased because of these seminars. In addition, they developed tangible skills in literature review, bench techniques, qualitative assessment, data analysis, and professional network building. Scholars reported improved academic self-efficacy and achieved greater career goal clarity. Areas for improvement included clarification of mentor-mentee roles, expectations for longitudinal mentorship, and long-term engagement between scholars. Financial stressors, lack of social capital, and structural racism were identified as barriers to success for URM trainees. CONCLUSION The Penn CFAR Scholars Program is a novel mentored research program that successfully engaged URM trainees from early educational stages. Barriers and facilitators to sustained efforts of diversifying the HIV/AIDS workforce were identified and will inform future program planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Kreider
- Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Yohaniz Ortega-Burgos
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
| | | | | | | | - Danny Bracy
- Mixed Methods Research Lab, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jacqui Bowman
- Center For Education, College of Physicians of Philadelphia
| | - David Metzger
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine
| | - C. Jessica Dine
- Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Economics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Kevin Favor
- Psychology and Human Services Department, Lincoln University
| | - Kelly L. Jordan-Sciutto
- Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Florence Momplaisir
- Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Economics, University of Pennsylvania
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3
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Dubé K, Barr E, Philbin M, Perez-Brumer A, Minalga B, Peterson B, Averitt D, Picou B, Martel K, Chung C, Mejía M, Cameron M, Graham G, Dee L, Diallo DD, Gordon E, Korolkova A, Dyer T, Auerbach JD, Scully E, Dong KL, Gianella S. Increasing the meaningful involvement of women in HIV cure-related research: a qualitative interview study in the United States. HIV Res Clin Pract 2023; 24:2246717. [PMID: 37608645 PMCID: PMC10454980] [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: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cisgender women represent over half of people living with HIV globally. However, current research efforts toward a cure for HIV focus predominantly on cisgender men. The under-representation of women in HIV cure clinical studies is particularly problematic given data suggesting that sex-dependent phenotypes limit scientific discovery. OBJECTIVE We aimed to generate considerations to increase the meaningful involvement of women in HIV cure-related research. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews with biomedical researchers and community members to better understand factors that could increase the meaningful involvement of women in HIV cure clinical trials. Participants were affiliated with academia, industry, community advisory boards, and community-based organizations, and were identified using listings from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group and the Martin Delaney Collaboratories. We used conventional content analysis to analyze the qualitative data. RESULTS We recruited 27 participants, of whom 11 were biomedical researchers and 16 were community members. Participants included 25 cisgender women, 1 transgender woman, and 1 cisgender man. Key considerations emerged, including the need to ensure that HIV cure studies reflect HIV epidemiologic trends and having accurate representation by sex and gender in HIV cure research. To increase the meaningful involvement of women, recommendations included instituting intentional enrollment goals, frequent and mandatory reporting on enrollment, and incentives for sites to enroll women. Additional themes included the need for agency and self-determination, attention to lived experiences, trauma and healing, and adequate support for women (e.g. logistical, psychosocial, mental, emotional, and physical). Participants noted that women would be willing to participate in HIV cure trials, related procedures (e.g. biopsies), and analytical treatment interruptions. They also expressed a desired for women-centered and holistic clinical trial designs that account for intersectionality. CONCLUSIONS Our empirical inquiry extends recent calls to action to increase diversity of people involved in HIV cure research. Redressing the under-inclusion of women in HIV cure research is an urgent imperative. The entire field must mobilize and reform to achieve this goal. Meaningfully involving women across the gender spectrum in HIV cure research is needed to ensure that interventions are safe, effective, scalable, and acceptable for all people with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Dubé
- University of California San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health (IDGPH), 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0507, San Diego, CA, 92093-0507, USA
- University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7411, USA
| | - Elizabeth Barr
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 400, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Morgan Philbin
- Center for Vulnerable Populations, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), 2789 25 Street, Suite 350, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | - Amaya Perez-Brumer
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Room 500, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Brian Minalga
- Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Beth Peterson
- Wistar Institute and BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory Towards an HIV-1 Cure, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Dawn Averitt
- The Well Project and Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI), Nationwide, USA
| | - Bridgette Picou
- The Well Project and Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI), Nationwide, USA
| | - Krista Martel
- The Well Project and Women’s Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI), Nationwide, USA
| | - Cecilia Chung
- Transgender Law Center, PO Box 70976, Oakland, CA, 94612-0976, USA
| | - María Mejía
- The Well Project Community Advisory Board (CAB), Nationwide, USA
| | - Martha Cameron
- International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), North America
| | - Gail Graham
- University of Maryland PATIENTS Program, 20 North Pine Sreet, Maryland, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Lynda Dee
- AIDS Action Baltimore, 14 East Street, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA
- Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) Community Advisory Board, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
| | | | - Ebony Gordon
- Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE) Community Advisory Board, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), 1035 Market Street, 4 Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA
| | - Anastasia Korolkova
- University of California San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health (IDGPH), 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0507, San Diego, CA, 92093-0507, USA
| | - Typhanye Dyer
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health, 4200 Valley Drive, Suite 2242, College Park, MD, 20742-2611, USA
| | - Judith D. Auerbach
- Division of Prevention Science, Department of Medicine, UCSF, 550 16 Street, 3 Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Eileen Scully
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Krista L. Dong
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139-3583, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MD, 02114, USA
| | - Sara Gianella
- University of California San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health (IDGPH), 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0507, San Diego, CA, 92093-0507, USA
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Hsu J, Besien KV, Glesby MJ, Pahwa S, Coletti A, Warshaw MG, Petz L, Moore TB, Chen YH, Pallikkuth S, Dhummakupt A, Cortado R, Golner A, Bone F, Baldo M, Riches M, Mellors JW, Tobin NH, Browning R, Persaud D, Bryson Y. HIV-1 remission and possible cure in a woman after haplo-cord blood transplant. Cell 2023; 186:1115-1126.e8. [PMID: 36931242 PMCID: PMC10616809 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Previously, two men were cured of HIV-1 through CCR5Δ32 homozygous (CCR5Δ32/Δ32) allogeneic adult stem cell transplant. We report the first remission and possible HIV-1 cure in a mixed-race woman who received a CCR5Δ32/Δ32 haplo-cord transplant (cord blood cells combined with haploidentical stem cells from an adult) to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Peripheral blood chimerism was 100% CCR5Δ32/Δ32 cord blood by week 14 post-transplant and persisted through 4.8 years of follow-up. Immune reconstitution was associated with (1) loss of detectable replication-competent HIV-1 reservoirs, (2) loss of HIV-1-specific immune responses, (3) in vitro resistance to X4 and R5 laboratory variants, including pre-transplant autologous latent reservoir isolates, and (4) 18 months of HIV-1 control with aviremia, off antiretroviral therapy, starting at 37 months post-transplant. CCR5Δ32/Δ32 haplo-cord transplant achieved remission and a possible HIV-1 cure for a person of diverse ancestry, living with HIV-1, who required a stem cell transplant for acute leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingmei Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology& Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine / New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Koen Van Besien
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology& Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine / New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Marshall J. Glesby
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine / New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Savita Pahwa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Anne Coletti
- Family Health International 360, Durham, NC, 27761, USA
| | - Meredith G Warshaw
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Larry Petz
- StemCyte International Cord Blood Center, Baldwin Park, California, 91706, USA
| | - Theodore B. Moore
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology& Oncology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ya Hui Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21025, USA
| | - Suresh Pallikkuth
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Adit Dhummakupt
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21025, USA
| | - Ruth Cortado
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mattel Children’s, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Amanda Golner
- Frontier Science & Technology Research Foundation, Inc, Amherst, NY, 14226, USA
| | - Frederic Bone
- Frontier Science & Technology Research Foundation, Inc, Amherst, NY, 14226, USA
| | - Maria Baldo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology& Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine / New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Marcie Riches
- Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - John W. Mellors
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburg School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Nicole H. Tobin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mattel Children’s, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Renee Browning
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Deborah Persaud
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21025, USA
| | - Yvonne Bryson
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mattel Children’s, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Saberi P, Campbell CK, Sauceda JA, Ndukwe S, Dubé K. Perceptions of Risks and Benefits of Participating in HIV Cure-Related Research Among Diverse Young Adults Living with HIV in the United States: Qualitative Research Findings. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2022; 38:649-659. [PMID: 35579937 PMCID: PMC9464049 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2021.0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the United States, young adults have the highest rates of new HIV infections, and are less likely to be aware of their infection, be engaged in care, or achieve HIV viral suppression. As biomedical HIV research increasingly focuses on achieving long-term suppression without antiretroviral therapy (ART) and finding an HIV cure, little is known about perceptions of young adults living with HIV (YLWH) regarding HIV cure research. We recruited a diverse sample of 20 YLWH (18-29 years old) to participate in individual semistructured qualitative interviews to explore knowledge and perceptions of HIV cure research, and motivations and barriers to participation. Most participants had little knowledge of HIV cure research. Motivators of HIV cure research participation included altruism, stigma reduction, and the elimination of the clinical burdens of HIV. Barriers included potential physical side effects, psychological distress, the possibility of disclosure as a result of participating, and the amount of time required to participate. Most participants had concerns about analytic treatment interruptions (i.e., ART interruption to assess HIV remission), and indicated that they would want more frequent laboratory testing and protection for their sex partners during this time. Finally, participants suggested that, if other YLWH are considering participation in cure research, they should first learn as much as possible about the research, and then consider the potential personal benefits and the contribution that they could make to science and their communities. As HIV cure research advances, the participation of YLWH will be critical. Our study provides knowledge about how YLWH view HIV cure research. More sociobehavioral research is needed to ensure that those who are most likely to be the decision-makers and beneficiaries of an HIV cure are included at all levels of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Saberi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.,Address correspondence to: Parya Saberi, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Box 0886, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Chadwick K. Campbell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - John A. Sauceda
- Department of Medicine, Division of Prevention Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Samuel Ndukwe
- School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina Gillings, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karine Dubé
- School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina Gillings, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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