PAID RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: AGE-HIV Study: Imaging, Molecular, and Clinical Biomarkers of Accelerated Lung Aging in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 2024
AGE-HIV-2024 is a multi-year study investigating the effect of HIV infection on lung aging.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Over the past two decades, new antiretroviral treatments have made HIV a manageable chronic disease. Despite these improvements, people living with HIV (PLWH) often experience other medical conditions, including severe chronic lung diseases. It’s not currently known why people living with HIV experience more severe lung disease, however it is suspected that PLWH experience a faster aging process in their lungs.
This study will look for evidence of faster aging in the lungs of PLWH which increases the risk of severe lung disease. This will be done using lung imaging techniques to detect structural and functional changes and the collection of lung cells to detect cellular and molecular changes.
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Who can participate in this study?
- Able to provide informed consent.
- At least 19 years of age.
- Those who fall into one of two categories:
1) People Living with HIV (history of HIV infection, on combination antiretroviral therapy), or
2) HIV-Negative
Optional bronchoscopy
- Enrolled in the main study
Optional exercise testing
- Enrolled in the main study
- Able to safely perform exercise
- Able to ride an upright stationary bicycle
What will this involve?
AGE-HIV-2024 has 1 main study and 2 optional sub-studies
Main Study
- Baseline study visit: Questionnaires, lung function tests, blood sample collection, pulmonary MRI scan, and chest CT scan.
Optional procedures: Exercise test and bronchoscopy. - 18 months after baseline: Questionnaires, lung function tests, blood sample collection.
Optional procedure: Bronchoscopy. - 36 months after baseline: Questionnaires, lung function tests, blood sample collection, pulmonary MRI scan, and chest CT scan.
Optional procedures: Exercise test and bronchoscopy.
2 Optional Sub-studies:
- Optional Exercise Test: assessment of lung function performed on a stationary bicycle.
- Optional Bronchoscopy: assessments of the lungs at all three time points of the study.
If you would like more information or wish to participate in this study, please visit https://agehivstudy.ca, or email: [email protected] or call 604-806-9465.