Current Activities
Cohort studies
The EuroSIDA Study is a prospective observational cohort study of more than 16.500 patients followed in 103 hospitals in 35 European countries. The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of antiretroviral drugs on the outcome of the general population of HIV-infected patients living in Europe.
Primary support for EuroSIDA is provided by the European Commission BIOMED 1 (CT94-1637), BIOMED 2 (CT97-2713), the 5th Framework (QLK2-2000-00773) and the 6th Framework (LSHP-CT-2006-018632), and the 7th Framework (FP7/2007-2013, EuroCoord n° 260694) programmes. Current support also includes unrestricted grants by Gilead, Pfizer, BMS, Merck and Co. The participation of centres from Switzerland was supported by The Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant 108787).
The D:A:D study , Data Collection on Adverse events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D), is a data collection study for HIV-infected patients under active follow up. As of November 2010, over 49,000 patients from 212 clinics world-wide participate in the D:A:D study.
The CoDe Project The goal of this project is to develop a uniform coding system that can be applied widely, including a detailed data collection of causes of death and contributing factors, and a centralized review process of the data collected.
The HIV-TB Project. “Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients in Europe” is a prospective European multi-cohort study. The long-term objective of this project is to describe and analyse the aspects mentioned above and potential regional diversities therein. This will ultimately lead to a better understanding of the clinical management of HIV and TB coinfection as well as any regional diversity in Europe and the underlying reasons.
Coordination of international randomized trials
CHIP takes on the responsibility of coordinating international trials for other scientific groups, where the knowledge and experience of working in the Scandinavian and European countries can contribute and ensure the quick and safe set-up of the trials.
INSIGHT Network
CHIP is one of four International Coordinating Centres in the INSIGHT network and is responsible for coordinating the trial activities of clinics in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Current trials in the INSIGHT network are:
START (Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Therapy) is an international randomized trial to determine whether starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) early (before the CD4 count drops to less than 500 cells/mm3 as current guidelines recommend, reduces the occurrence of serious morbidity and mortality.
FLU 002 is an international observational study to characterize adults with Influenza A - Pandemic H1N1 (H1N1v). This outpatient study opened in 2009. 5000 patients with H1N1v will be enrolled in geographically diverse locations and will be followed for 14 days.
FLU 003 is an international observational study to characterize adults who are hospitalized with complications of Influenza A- Pandemic H1N1 (H1N1v). This study opened in 2009 and will enrol patients hospitalized with severe and/or complicated Influenza A in geographically diverse locations. The goal is to enrol 1000 patients with H1N1v and follow them for 60 days.
The ESPRIT002/STALWART trial will compare the effects of subcutaneous (SC) recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) administered with and without concomitant pericycle highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to no therapy on CD4+ T lymphocyte count in patients with HIV-1 infection and CD4+ T lymphocyte count >300 cells/mm3. Pericycle HAART is HAART given only for a few days before, during and after each 5-day IL-2 cycle.
NEAT Network
CHIP is one of four Clinical Trial Units coordinating the clinical activities within the NEAT network in Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. Current trials in the NEAT network are:
The NEAT 001 trial is an open-label randomized two-year trial comparing two first-line regimens in HIV-infected antiretroviral naïve subjects: darunavir/r + tenofovir/emitricitabine vs. darunavir/r + raltegravir.
The PROBE-C Study, PRospective OBservational Evaluation of the natural history and treatment of acute HCV in HIV-positive individuals initiated by the NEAT 002 - Acute HCV Observational Database Study Group.
Coordination of national randomized trials
The CASS Study, the Cooling And Surviving Septic shock study is actively conducted by the Danish intensive care investigators that completed the PASS study. The trial will be initiated in the fall 2011.
Training and outreach activities
PhD students CHIP strives to maintain a critical mass of PhD students to facilitate sparring and mutual inspiration. It is important for CHIP to ensure that PhD students participate in the daily operational work of maintaining the large cohort studies undertaken by CHIP and supplying data to PhDs and Post Docs.
Master of HIV CHIP has developed the first ever Master of HIV education that combines teaching in clinical and organizational management of HIV. The flexible degree programme is for all those with a clinical, public health or organizational management interest in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.
E-learning Currently CHIP is developing a web-based learning platform in collaboration with WHO in the EU-funded project Monitoring Medicines. Also parts of the Master programme will be transformed to web-based learning. Within the NEAT network CHIP has developed a practical guide for investigators to GCP and an IATA-training for staff shipping specimens to CHIP.
Interns and scholars Within EACS -the society for not-for-profit group of European physicians, clinicians and researchers in the field of HIV/AIDS- CHIP hosts scholars primarily from Eastern European countries. Medical students have a possibility to apply for internships.
Updated: 21 Jun 2011