Exploring low-level HIV viremia in people on standard HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa
Official title: Exploring low-level HIV viremia among individuals on dolutegravir in sub-Saharan Africa (Low-V Africa Study)
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11614202 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows adults with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are on the common TLD treatment to understand why small amounts of the virus stay in the blood and what that might mean for their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $133,291 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI186787-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11614202 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who experience persistent low-level viremia while on the TLD regimen.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not have persistent low-level viremia on TLD, this study may not directly benefit you.
What this research studies
Researchers in South Africa will enroll adults living with HIV who experience persistent low levels of virus while taking tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir. They will collect blood samples over time and use advanced sequencing techniques to study the virus and its integration into the human genome. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that might drive ongoing viral presence and how it relates to health outcomes. The team includes experts in epidemiology, virology, clinical HIV care, and biostatistics from Massachusetts General Hospital and collaborators in South Africa. If the study finds actionable insights, it could inform better monitoring and treatment strategies for people on TLD in high-burden settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to improved monitoring and treatment approaches for people with HIV on TLD who have lingering low-level viremia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown LLV can be associated with health outcomes; this study uses novel sequencing to explore mechanisms in a high-burden setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccluskey, Suzanne — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Mccluskey, Suzanne
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.