HIV cure: an acceptability scientific agenda

Abstract

Purpose of review Recent years have seen major investments into HIV cure research, seeking a permanent cure or remission. The purpose of this review is to consider how this important research agenda could be broadened to include issues of acceptability and appropriateness for different populations. Recent findings We discuss how the definitions of cure such as functional cure (remission) or complete cure (viral elimination) could be interpreted differently by various populations. We also discuss the different methods of cure and the importance of including Africa in cure research to ensure that emerging remedies could be trialled and utilized on the continent that bears the brunt of the AIDS pandemic. Summary We propose that the social science research of HIV cure acceptability should be done concurrently with the basic and clinical sciences, to ensure that cure methods consider stakeholder preferences.

Healthcare Provider Perspectives on HIV Cure Research in Ghana

“…This is a high bar for cure that researchers need to take note of as they design cure modalities. The expectation of complete viral elimination is not unique to Ghanaian healthcare providers as patients and providers in other settings find it difficult to grasp the concept of functional cure [ 24 ]. This means that more studies using robust methods such as choice experiments and human centered designs are needed to explore the concept of an HIV functional cure in both patients and providers.…”