HIV Intervention — Dr. Betsy Herold and her colleagues have been awarded $12 million over five years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their novel approach to HIV prevention. Effective HIV preventatives have remained elusive due to difficulties with adherence and biological differences in how drugs are distributed to sites of HIV acquisition. Dr. Herold has proposed that drug development begin with extensive assessments of these factor using animal models and clinical samples. The investigators will then apply their findings to further optimize an intra-vaginal ring that delivers a more potent combination of drugs than current gel products and ensures appropriate dosage and targeting of tissues, while also overcoming issues of patient adherence to strict dosing regimens. Dr. Herold is professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases), of microbiology & immunology and of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health. Co-investigators at Einstein include Dr. Marla Keller and Pedro Mesquita. The Einstein team will work with collaborators at other institutions, including the University of Utah, Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Washington, and Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
Posted on: Wednesday, June 05, 2013