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Barts and The London HIV Service | HIV clinical research

Barts and The London HIV Service

HIV clinical research

Red ribbons ring

This research department in the Grahame Hayton Unit has become one of the most active in the country within HIV clinical research. We are always recruiting to different research trials which means that we can offer new and innovative treatment strategies to our patients as soon as they become available.

Currently the main areas of research are divided into two groups:

  1. Commercial Clinical Trials - sponsored by a Pharmaceutical company.
  2. Non-Commercial Clinical Trials - sponsored by the UKCRN (UK Clinical Research Network) or an NHS Trust.

These two groups are sub-divided into:

  • Treatment naïve trials: e.g. taking antiretrovirals for the first time (first line therapy).
  • Primary infection: e.g. taking antiretrovirals soon after the onset of infection.
  • Treatment experienced: e.g. looking at different options after first line therapy.
  • Strategy trials: e.g. comparing standard triple therapy to mono therapy. 
  • Observational Cohort Studies: e.g. long term data collection on various parameters.
  • Neutralising antibodies: detailed below   

Neutralising antibodies

Our second main area of research involves working with Professor Aine McKnight, a Clinical Scientist working at Queen Mary’s Medical School here at Barts and The London. Together we are part of the Bill and Melinda Gates grant to study neutralising antibodies in HIV across viral subtypes within East London.

Different strains of HIV can be sub grouped according to genes. For example, HIV-1 group M is the most common subtype globally, but the group is further divided into subtypes A, B, C and D – subtype B is the most common in the UK. Some studies have shown that these different subtypes can have different effects on HIV transmission, development of resistance and disease progression. This research has now evolved to include work on what suppresses the virus across all groups.

The team includes:

  • Principal Investigator: Dr Chloe Orkin
  • Sub Principal Investigator: Specialist Registrar
  • Research Manager: Mr James Hand
  • Research Co-ordinator: Mr Carl De Souza

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial in this unit please contact:

James Hand: 020 7377 7457 or e-mail james.hand@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk