Understanding The Establishment Of HIV Reservoirs And Development Of HIV Eradication Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,891.00
Summary
Understanding why, when, how and at what pace the HIV virus hides and establishes itself in one's body will allow us to design new ways for preventing and eliminating this reservoir of hidden HIV. As a clinician scientist in HIV and infectious diseases, I will drive clinical studies to explore the kinetics of HIV in patients who recently acquired HIV, those who start HIV treatment early, and those chronically infected with HIV so as to investigate novel means to minimise HIV hiding spots.
Enhancing The Cascade Of HIV Care To Maximise The Prevention Benefits Of Antiretroviral Therapy For Populations Living With HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,644.00
Summary
Antiretroviral drugs are effective at preventing death and illness for populations with HIV and preventing HIV transmission. I will undertake a series of studies to measure the impact of current antiretroviral treatment to prevent both illness and new infections in Australia. I will also undertake a series of studies to increase HIV testing, diagnose HIV earlier, and improve people’s linkage and retention HIV in care and evaluate the impact of these interventions on HIV transmission.
Group A Streptococcal Human Challenge Study: Accelerating Vaccine Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,018,741.00
Summary
Infection with group A streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in the Aboriginal population of Australia. Concerted efforts for vaccine development have been hampered by the absence of a suitable animal model. To address this critical knowledge gap we propose to develop a controlled human infection model of GAS infection. This model will provide a direct pathway for the future appraisal of novel GAS vaccines.
The Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic And Pharmacogenomic Outcomes Of Reduced Dosage Of Efavirenz: The Encore1 Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,234,943.00
Summary
Our primary aim is to assess blood concentrations of a drug called efavirenz, an important drug used in the treatment of HIV infection and associate these with variability of genes that control metabolism of the drug. A better understanding of gene variability and how it relates to safety and efficacy outcomes at a reduced, compared to a standard dose of efavirenz could support improved treatment of HIV disease.
Antiretroviral drugs reduce morbidity and mortality for people living with HIV however there is currently no cure for HIV. I will undertake a series of studies that will contribute to HIV cure research in Australia. This includes describing novel strategies to identify and measure residual dormant HIV in individuals on suppressive antiretroviral therapy, determining the effect of cancer drugs on dormant HIV, and exploring the attitudes of people living with HIV towards cure research.
New Methods And Guidelines For The Design, Analysis And Reporting Of Cluster-crossover And Stepped Wedge Randomised Trials In Clinical And Public Health Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,258.00
Summary
Cluster crossover and stepped wedge designs have emerged recently as study designs used in clinical and public health research settings. However, despite their use there has been very little methodological assessment of the statistical analysis methods used in current practice. The proposed research will assess the correctness of current methods and will produce a toolkit of state-of-the art, defensible trial design, analysis and reporting methods for the clinical/health researcher.