Amanda Castel, MD, MPH, and Marcos Perez-Losada, PhD, MS have received an NIH CFAR Administrative Supplement entitled, "Real-time Phylodynamic Analysis of HIV in Washington, DC" to study HIV transmission patterns in Washington, DC to better identify which subpopulations and geographic areas are at highest risk for transmission and potential spread. Past efforts to track the spread have relied primarily on routinely collected health department surveillance and laboratory data, and cross-sectional surveys; however; these methods are not able to assess the real-time spread of HIV as they are not very efficient in characterizing HIV transmission patterns and networks.
Drs. Castel and Perez-Losada and their team will build upon data from the DC Cohort study and the DC Department of Health to conduct real-time characterization of the population dynamics of HIV in a group of viremic persons (viral loads >1500 copies/ml). Using phylodynamic analysis, they hope identify clusters of HIV transmission for targeted prevention, in order to inform clinicians as to the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance to guide treatment. This research will allow for public health programs to be developed that can inform prevention, care, and treatment efforts targeted to these highest risk populations.
Click here for more information on NIH CFAR Administrative Supplements.