Research

Adult ART study

UCSF is assisting in conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of clinic-centered, clinic- and home-centered, and standard strategies for reducing HIV-transmission risk and increasing drug adherence in HIV-infected adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a peri-urban area of Uganda. The primary objective will be to measure the effects of these strategies on sexual behavior at 6 and 12 months after randomization. We will also examine the effects on drug adherence, family planning, uptake of HIV voluntary counseling and testing among participants’ household members, and drug resistance, as well as the cost-effectiveness of the different approaches. The factors associated with poor adherence and changes in sexual behavior that may occur over time among participants will be explored. The evaluation will be conducted in partnership with the Mildmay Centre near Kampala, Uganda. All clinical care, including provision of antiretroviral therapy, will be provided by the Mildmay Centre following national guidelines that have received approval by the Ministry of Health.

Acute UFO Study: Acute HCV infection in young injectors

Young injection drug users (IDU) constitute a distinctive high risk and understudied group with high rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We are conducting research that we hope could lead to vaccine development, and that can help us to understand HCV infectivity and transmission dynamics of acute HCV between young IDU in injecting and sexual partnerships.

Cambodian Young Women’s Health Study

This is a collaboration between a small, women-run NGO, Cambodian Women’s Development Association, and the National Center for HIV, AIDS, Dermatology & STDs. This study will explore probable associations between drug use and sexual risk, as measured by HIV, STDs, and HPV infection among young women in Phnom Penh, Cambodia who have multiple sexual partners. As well, recruitment and follow-up strategies will be piloted in a cohort of young high-risk women in preparation for future larger prevention research studies including HIV vaccine, microbicide, and chemoprophylaxis trials.

Philippines Child Health Experiment

The Philippine Child Health and Policy Experiment is a unique, randomized project that follows the long-term effects of health policy interventions on child health. The project’s goal is to assess the changes in provider and patient behavior and subsequent changes in child health and cognitive outcomes, measured using blood biomarkers, subjective self-reported health status assessments, and age-specific measures of cognitive development.

Tobacco Control

Dr. Tom Novotny is coordinator of global tobacco control activities at the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. The CTCRE is a World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Tobacco Control, and focuses primarily on research regarding secret tobacco industry documents, training of post-doctoral scholars from multiple disciplines, and collaborative research with China, Brazil, and the Former Soviet Union. CTCRE also provides short-term training opportunities to international tobacco control workers and scholars, as well as consultations to various countries on tobacco control policy.

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