Women's Interagency HIV Study

Women's Interagency HIV Study
Name	Women's Interagency HIV Study
Funding	National Institutes of Health
Date	1993
Location	United States

Women's Interagency HIV Study is a comprehensive, long-term National Institutes of Health-funded study that investigates the effects of HIV infection on women's health, involving collaborations with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The study aims to understand the natural history of HIV infection in women, examining factors such as antiretroviral therapy, HIV transmission, and AIDS-related illnesses, with contributions from renowned researchers like Dr. Kathryn Anastos and Dr. Mardge Cohen. The study's findings have been presented at conferences like Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections and published in prestigious journals, including Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, with support from organizations like American Foundation for AIDS Research and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Introduction

The Women's Interagency HIV Study was established in 1993, with the primary goal of investigating the impact of HIV on women's health, in collaboration with institutions like Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, San Francisco. The study has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of HIV infection in women, with key contributions from researchers like Dr. Ruth Macklin and Dr. Nancy Kass, and has informed the development of HIV treatment guidelines by organizations like World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. The study's findings have been presented at conferences like International AIDS Conference and published in journals like The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine, with support from organizations like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and National Institute of Mental Health.

Background

The Women's Interagency HIV Study was initiated in response to the growing HIV epidemic among women in the United States, with significant contributions from researchers at Harvard University, University of Washington, and University of Pennsylvania. At the time, there was a lack of data on the effects of HIV infection on women's health, with limited research conducted by organizations like National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The study was designed to address this knowledge gap, with collaborations with institutions like Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Michigan. The study's protocol was developed in consultation with experts from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with input from organizations like American Medical Association and Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Methodology

The Women's Interagency HIV Study employs a prospective cohort design, with participants recruited from urban areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and rural areas like Appalachia and Deep South, with support from organizations like Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The study involves regular interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, with data collected on demographic characteristics, medical history, and behavioral risk factors, using methods developed by researchers like Dr. Susan Folstein and Dr. Wendy Chavkin. The study's data are analyzed using statistical models and epidemiological methods, with collaborations with institutions like Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of California, San Diego, and input from organizations like American Statistical Association and International Biometric Society.

Findings

The Women's Interagency HIV Study has yielded numerous significant findings, including the importance of antiretroviral therapy in reducing HIV transmission and AIDS-related illnesses, with contributions from researchers like Dr. David Ho and Dr. Eric Goosby. The study has also highlighted the impact of socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare, on HIV outcomes, with collaborations with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, and University of Illinois at Chicago. Additionally, the study has investigated the relationship between HIV infection and co-morbidities, such as hepatitis C and tuberculosis, with support from organizations like World Bank and United Nations Development Programme.

Impact

The Women's Interagency HIV Study has had a significant impact on our understanding of HIV infection in women, informing the development of HIV treatment guidelines and public health policies, with contributions from researchers like Dr. Deborah Cotton and Dr. Sevgi Aral. The study's findings have been presented at conferences like Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections and published in prestigious journals, including Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, with support from organizations like National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The study has also contributed to the development of HIV prevention programs and interventions targeting women at high risk of HIV infection, with collaborations with institutions like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London.

Participants

The Women's Interagency HIV Study has enrolled over 3,000 women living with HIV in the United States, with significant contributions from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, San Francisco. The study's participants are diverse, representing various racial and ethnic groups, including African American women, Hispanic women, and white women, with collaborations with institutions like Howard University, University of Puerto Rico, and University of Hawaii at Manoa. The study's participants have been instrumental in shaping the research agenda, with input from organizations like National Minority AIDS Council and The AIDS Institute, and have contributed to the development of HIV treatment guidelines and public health policies that address the unique needs of women living with HIV, with support from organizations like United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Category:Medical research