Rakai Community Cohort Study: A Resource for Infectious Disease Research
Official title: The Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS): A Research Resource
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11604071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-running health data and biospecimen resource from Uganda is being preserved and expanded to help study HIV, other infections, and related health questions.
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 start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,093,264 |
| NIH project number | 3R24AI197934-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11604071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal for researchers and clinicians seeking population-based infectious disease data, biospecimens, or insights from long-term cohorts with Ugandan populations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals directly enrolled in the RCCS would benefit primarily through future research insights, not immediate clinical care.
What this research studies
This grant supports strengthening the RCCS, a 30+-year cohort with about 100,000 participants across 34 communities. The project will expand follow-up data by adding roughly 100,000 person-years and enhance data, biospecimens, and research services through five cores: administration, field surveys, data center, biobank/lab, and communications. The effort aims to inform U.S. and global health policies and programs by making RCCS data and resources more accessible to researchers. It will enable researchers to analyze infectious disease patterns and health outcomes in a real-world population in Uganda while ensuring ethical data handling and participant protections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from improved understanding of HIV and other infections, informing better prevention and treatment strategies globally.
How similar studies have gone: Previous RCCS work has contributed to major health discoveries, suggesting a strong track record for impact with this resource.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Larry William — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Chang, Larry William
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting hidden brain injuries in iTTP to improve long-term brain health
A researcher aims to find out how silent brain injuries in people with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) happen, how they affect thinking and stroke risk, and how to prevent them.
-
Accelerated flap coverage for severe leg injuries: earlier reconstruction vs standard timing
This study tests whether doing early flap coverage after a severe leg injury lowers infection risk and improves healing for patients with open wounds and bone injury.
-
Placebo-controlled shunting for iNPH: does the surgery help with walking and balance?
A doctor-led trial at Johns Hopkins will test whether a shunt surgery improves walking and balance in older adults with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.
-
Omalizumab for COPD patients with allergen sensitization and exposure
A multicenter trial will test whether adding omalizumab helps people with COPD who are allergic to common indoor allergens and are exposed to them.
-
Johns Hopkins Total Worker Health Center focusing on mental health
A nationwide center at Johns Hopkins is working to improve mental health and well-being among workers by studying workplace health strategies and translating findings into practical tools.
-
Role of fat droplets in liver fat and inflammatory signals in NAFLD
A study at Johns Hopkins will explore how fat droplets in the liver influence molecules that drive inflammation and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults.
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.