Infectious Disease Research at Cone Health
We focus on HIV/AIDS to improve outcomes for our community – and far beyond
In 1991 the first participant was enrolled in a clinical trial for a newly formed Clinical Research Site (CRS) at Cone Health under the guidance of its “parent” clinical trials unit, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill within the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Network (ACTG). In Greensboro and across the globe the ACTG (which is the largest international clinical trials network on the planet) has since brought about the most dramatic scientific, medical and cultural revolutions in the past 100 years—the transformation of providing care for people living with HIV and more importantly to the lives of those living with HIV.
In 2023 people living with HIV have thirteen different complete anti-retroviral regimens in single tablet once daily regimens and now a long acting intramuscular drug that can be given every two months to completely control a virus that would otherwise decimate their immune systems.
In addition to participating in the ACTG, the Greensboro CRS has been a stellar site for the START (Strategic Timing of Anti-retroviral Therapy) Study from another NIH network (the INSIGHT network). We have participated in the HIV Prevention Trials Network Study 083 as a Study Specific Site that proved the superiority of long acting antiviral therapy (Cabotegravir) to oral therapy (Tenofovir DF, Emtricitabine) for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection.
We have also participated in and continue to participate in Pharmaceutical sponsored trials with ViiV/GSK, Gilead and Janssen. Certainly, we at the Greensboro CRS in 2023 do feel we are “standing on the shoulders of giants.” We are eternally grateful to the physician scientists and most important patients living with or at risk of HIV who over the decades have made this new era possible. That being said the work with regards to HIV and HIV prevention is far from done. While people living with HIV live near normal life expectancy with qualitatively near normal lives the work is not done.
We are continuing to explore the nuances and subtle differences to people living with HIV. As an example we are exploring whether or not people living with HIV would benefit from a “statin” to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. We are trying to explore why some people living with HIV on certain ARV’s gain more weight. We are studying whether or not certain vaccines are as effective in people living with HIV vs those without this infection.
We have a new PrEP study with an even more long acting subcutaneous therapy to prevent HIV. We are as always exploring new drugs, vaccines, antibodies to treat and prevent HIV. Cure studies, while aspirational remain on the horizon.
As the largest global clinical trials network the ACTG was front and center of COVID vaccine and therapeutic development. We know that as with COVID we will continue to be called upon to flex to the newest global pandemic threat in addition the HIV.
View Our Current Studies
You can also reach out to us directly for more information.
Also, be on the lookout for us within your community. We’re often present at health fairs, community events and more, as a way to share the work that happens here. Follow us on Facebook to share in updates as well as upcoming events.
Current Research
If you have interest in participating in any of our current trials, please complete our online form.