HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that infects particular cells of the immune system, called CD4 T-cells.
If left untreated, HIV gradually weakens the immune system of an infected person making them more susceptible to other infections which may put their life at risk.
HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), sharing of contaminated needles, transfusion of contaminated blood, and between a mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a term that describes the point at which an infected person’s immune system can no longer function properly because of the damage caused by HIV, and they get one or more specific, often severe, illnesses.
It can take up to 10-15 years for an untreated person to advance to AIDS. Antiretroviral drugs significantly slow down the progression of HIV infection so lessen the chance of developing AIDS-defining illnesses and the result is that HIV-infected people can now expect to live much longer. However, many HIV-infected people (approximately one third in the UK) are not aware of their infection and so are unable to fully benefit from antiretroviral drugs.
In many parts of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa, antiretroviral drugs are not affordable but have started to be made freely available in 2004 by donors such as the Global Fund, for all those who are eligible to start treatment. By the end of 2008 approximately 33 million people were living with HIV worldwide, while 2 million had died from HIV/AIDS.
The HIV Group at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit is involved in co-ordinating and running a number of major international clinical trials of antiretroviral and immune therapy, and different treatment strategies. We also co-ordinate a number of national and international observational studies that help us to understand the progression of HIV and the longer-term effects of treatment.
The main objectives of the MRC Clinical Trials Unit HIV Group are to:
- Identify and recommend optimum strategies for treating and monitoring people with HIV
- Investigate effective ways of preventing HIV transmission
- Monitor clinical outcome and HIV drug resistance
For more information on HIV, visit the useful links page.
