Advancing HIV Research for the Most Affected Population

Most HIV research has focused on subtype B of the virus prevalent in Europe, North America, and Australia. However, the most severely impacted region by the HIV epidemic is south of the Sahara in Africa. In these countries, primarily women are infected with subtypes other than type B. Collaborative efforts between Dutch and African scientists aim to provide a solution to the HIV epidemic for this most affected group: women in sub-Saharan Africa. The SPIRAL project, recently granted over 6 million euros by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the AidsFonds, is dedicated to this cause.

Under the leadership of biomedical scientists Internist-Infectiologist Godelieve de Bree (Amsterdam UMC), Monique Nijhuis (UMC Utrecht), Tokameh Mahmoudi (Erasmus MC), and social scientist Sarah Stutterheim (Maastricht University), the SPIRAL project collaborates with researchers in the Netherlands, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia. Monique Nijhuis, the project leader, underscores the commitment to inclusivity, stating, "In the past, African scientists were often involved in research at a late stage. We work closely at every level and from the beginning."

A pivotal aspect of the cure strategy involves mapping the HIV reservoir—immune cells where the virus remains dormant. Despite HIV inhibitors, this reservoir persists, necessitating costly, lifelong therapy and constant monitoring for individuals living with HIV. The removal of the reservoir is essential for a cure. However, the size and activity of the reservoir for subtypes other than type B, as well as gender-based variations, remain largely unknown. Acquiring this knowledge constitutes a primary objective of the SPIRAL project. Additionally, the initiative addresses the social and economic challenges associated with developing and implementing a universal HIV cure.

The six-year SPIRAL project, is funded by the Knowledge and Information Covenant (KIC) program 'HIV Cure for Everyone’, by a collaborative partnership between Aidsfonds and NWO.

Source: Read the original article (in Dutch) on the website of UMC Utrecht.