July 31, 2009

New Study to Examine Acute HIV Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has given a $3.5 million grant to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) to research HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa, the Triangle Business Journal reports.

According to the article, researchers at UNC’s Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases will conduct a four-year study on people with acute HIV infection, which is the time between when a person is infected with HIV and when antibodies are present. Acute HIV infection can last up to 12 weeks; during this time, transmission is more likely because of rapid viral replication.

William Miller, MD, one of the lead researchers, believes that a substantial amount of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa happens during that time period.

After identifying and informing participants of their HIV status, the researchers will create and evaluate possible prevention strategies.

“There is no ‘magic bullet’ to prevent HIV infection,” Miller said. “Successful prevention programs will require combining prevention strategies. In this study we will try to reduce transmission from newly infected people.”

UNC will carry out the study at its research facility in Lilongwe, Malawi.

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