Long-acting HIV injections for people who inject drugs
Long-Acting Injectables for Treatment of HIV among PWID (LIFT HIV)
The project will compare long-acting injectable HIV medicines to standard oral pills to help people who inject drugs in New Delhi keep the virus suppressed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304593 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would first take part in community interviews and observation so the team can design a trial that fits local needs. Then people with detectable HIV who inject drugs in New Delhi would be randomly assigned to receive long-acting injectable ART or standard oral ART and followed over time for viral load, side effects, and whether the treatment fits their life. The researchers will also use mathematical models to estimate long-term health and cost effects of using injections in similar communities. The team will track safety, adherence, and how acceptable injections are compared with daily pills.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with HIV who currently inject drugs and have a detectable viral load in or near New Delhi.
Not a fit: People who already have stable viral suppression on oral therapy or who cannot take the study medicines are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more people who inject drugs maintain viral suppression with fewer daily pills, lowering illness and onward HIV transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Long-acting injectable HIV drugs have worked well to maintain suppression in people already virally suppressed, but they are newer and largely untested among people who inject drugs or those with detectable virus in low- and middle-income settings.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solomon, Sunil Suhas — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Solomon, Sunil Suhas
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 below.