A Western University-led international research initiative aimed at finding a cure for HIV has received $24 million in federal funding.
The six-year project, known as IMMUNEQUITY, brings together Canadian universities and research partners in Uganda to develop treatments that could potentially cure HIV and be made affordable and accessible in countries with the greatest need.
Researchers hope to conduct the first human clinical trials of the potential treatments in both Canada and Uganda.
Project lead Eric Arts, a Canada Research Chair in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, says current HIV treatments can control the virus, but patients generally need to remain on medication for life to prevent it from returning and progressing.
The research team is developing two products designed to work together. One, known as HLP, aims to draw dormant HIV out of infected cells. A second treatment, being developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Manitoba, is intended to kill the virus once it becomes active.
Researchers hope HLP will be ready for clinical trials midway through the six-year funding period.
The initiative also includes partners in Uganda, where approximately 1.5 million people living with HIV take antiretroviral medication. Researchers say improving access to future treatments is a key priority, particularly as funding for existing HIV programs faces challenges.
The project also involves Western researchers developing lower-cost monitoring technologies to help determine whether treatments are working effectively. Researchers say the cost of existing monitoring systems can limit access to some treatments in African countries.
The ultimate goal of IMMUNEQUITY is to advance HIV cure research while helping ensure that promising treatments can reach patients in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa more equitably.
The project does not yet represent a proven cure, and the proposed treatments must undergo clinical testing to establish their safety and effectiveness.
Written by: C. Soares
