$9M awarded to study HIV and substance use at intersection of vulnerable populations

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) received an annual award for $3 million funded by the NIH Office of AIDS Research. The PFAP award is projected to total approximately $9 million over four years. Principal Investigators are Elana Rosenthal, MD and Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, MPH.

The "Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use (RIIS)" is a unique Baltimore and DC Based clinical care and research program at the IHV with the primary purpose to explore the intersection of infections and substance use in marginalized populations. RIIS grew out of the DC Partnership for HIV AIDS Progress (PFAP), a local-federal partnership funded by the NIH Office of AIDS Research and established in 2009 to support multidisciplinary efforts to respond to HIV in the region.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of the Office of AIDS Research to continue this endeavor. PFAP funding allows us to maintain an exemplary team of clinicians, study coordinators, and research assistants who literally meet patients where they are," said Elana Rosenthal, MD, DC RIIS Director. "It is due to the commitment of our team members to these patient populations, and our amazing community partners - like HIPS and Baltimore Safe Haven - that we are able to conduct research that not only engages marginalized patients but is also directly responsive to their unmet needs."

With the support of PFAP funding, RIIS has developed multiple community based clinical care and research sites across the Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland region, accessing marginalized patient populations including people with HIV, people who inject drugs, gender and sexual minority individuals, people with unstable housing, and those who engage in sex work.

"The foundation of our research program is our partnership with community-based sites that provide culturally competent and relevant services," said Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, MPH, Baltimore RIIS Director. "By accessing patients at sites outside of traditional healthcare settings, we can directly engage individuals who would normally not be represented in research."

"This program is an impressive example of how both innovation and implementation research can be used to improve public health outcomes," said Henry Masur, MD, Chief, Critical Care Medicine Department at NIH Clinical Care Center. "This program has had a major impact on reducing the burden of HIV on Washington, D.C. by focusing on how to encourage the most marginalized populations to access and remain in care."

Through this program, over 1,600 patients with HIV and hepatitis C virus have been linked to care and over 1,100 patients cured of hepatitis C. Further, hundreds of patients have been engaged in HIV treatment and prevention, gender affirming care, medication for opioid use disorder, STI testing and treatment and more. The PFAP award will enable ongoing support of this program.

Investigators at IHV conduct state of the art research in improving the well-being of individuals afflicted with chronic viral infections. There is none more relevant and treasured by me than our efforts to reach and benefit marginalized communities. During the past 14 years, PFAP has engaged community leaders and providers in Washington, DC and Baltimore to implement innovative care models for the most needful in our community. The work led by Drs. Rosenthal and Kattakuzhy are commendable and well deserved to be recognized by the large NIH funding."

Shyamasundaran Kottilil, MD, PhD, Interim IHV Director and Director of the Division of Clinical Care and Research

Because of the financial support from the PFAP award, researchers at RIIS continue to acquire insight into at-risk demographics and obstacles to healthcare access. The patient-centered approach to enhance the provision of care and foster collaborative translational research alongside clinical practice benefits healthcare in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area.