Expanding HIV Cure-Related Research in Sub-Saharan Africa and Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Abstract

Most HIV cure-related basic and translational research to date has focused on subtype B virus isolated primarily from men who have sex with men in the U.S. and Europe. However, among the 38 million people living with HIV globally, subtype B only represents ~12% of the global HIV burden. Moreover, approximately 54% of the global population of people living with HIV are female. Overall, ~67% of people living with HIV reside in Sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV cure-related research expertise and laboratory infrastructure are limited. Expanding HIV cure research into geographic areas not currently represented within the HIV cure research community is important to ensure that scientific conclusions and therapeutic strategies developed take into account the full global diversity of people living with HIV.