HEATHER
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HIV Reservoir targeting with Early Antiretroviral Therapy
IRAS ID
159351
Contact name
John Frater
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Research Summary:
There is currently no cure for HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (or 'ART') can prevent disease progression and has revolutionised the management of HIV infection. Although ART is not a cure, there are a growing number of cases of individuals who have started ART very early in HIV infection and then have stopped treatment, but with no evidence of the virus coming back. This phenomenon of post-treatment control (or 'PTC') has attracted much interest and may help provide key insights into how to cure HIV.The HEATHER study is a cohort study which is part of the CHERUB collaboration (see below in A6-2) and is designed to explore the impact of ART on the HIV 'reservoir' - the pool of latent ( or 'sleeping') HIV that persists on ART and the reason current therapies need to be taken life-long. To achieve the longer term goal of understanding PTC, we first need to identify a large cohort of recently infected HIV+ve individuals who started ART shortly after infection. Once identified, we need to measure a number of biomarkers such as T cell immunity and HIV DNA levels, to monitor the impact of ART on the reservoir. These patients are rare, and so we need to recruit at a number of centers across the UK.
The aim of this application is to allow us to set up the HEATHER cohort and to start taking blood samples to allow a detailed prospective analysis of the impact of ART on the reservoir. There is no intervention, beyond taking the extra blood samples. All patients will be managed according to current UK guidelines. The research is funded by the Medical Research Council and the British HIV Association and will recruit in the UK at three NHS Trusts (Chelsea and Westminster, Guy's and St Thomas' and Imperial NHS Trusts).
Summary of Results:
HEATHER was an observational cohort study designed to recruit people with recent HIV infection to allow longitudinal follow up of clinical, virological and immunological parameters. There were no interventions other than standard of care. We recruited a total of 443 people with HIV into HEATHER, from whom blood samples were taken every 6-12 months to monitor any changes over time. All participants stayed under the routine care of their NHS clinical team during this time. The samples were used for subsequent laboratory research studies and clinical data were used to map outcomes on therapy. The study closed in 2022 and all samples were transferred to a licensed biobank in Oxford.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/1104
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion