Competence Network HIV / AIDS
As one of 21 medical "competence networks ", the Competence Network HIV / AIDS (KompNet HIV / AIDS) is currently being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research . To this end, working groups from the areas of clinical and clinic-related basic research have come together in Germany to form a research association at the federal level.
The aim of the Competence Network HIV / AIDS is to improve the treatment of the HIV disease in order to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of those affected. The pharmaceutical industry supports the project with monetary donations.
activity
The Competence Network HIV / AIDS has built up a patient cohort with a data pool of 15,000 patients over the years. The scientific basis of the Competence Network HIV / AIDS is its patient database and the associated material bank of 50,000 serum samples, 12,000 DNA samples and 2,000 tissue samples. The patient cohort also includes a pregnant women module and a child module, with which the entire spectrum of pregnancy up to childhood and adulthood can be followed, possibly also with a specific patient. Furthermore, in 2008 a resistance database was implemented in the resistance data resistances are covered by which located in the cohort patients. Resistance analyzes are used in clinical practice to optimally adapt the antiretroviral therapy to this situation if a virus mutation is present . The focus of resistance research in the competence network is the epidemiological mapping of the resistance situation in Germany as well as basic scientific and clinically applied analyzes in combination with the material banks. These data and material databases are the basis for large national and international studies, which are essential for the further development of HIV research and thus for the treatment of patients.
A unique selling point of the Competence Network HIV / AIDS is the cooperation with the basic scientists and the translational research carried out with them, which has led to a successful transfer of research results into treatment practice. In addition to the aforementioned basic and clinical research, social science studies also play a major role in the HIV / AIDS competence network. These are based on the one hand on the extensive socio-demographic dataset of the patient cohort, on the other hand social science studies are carried out in the areas of knowledge / attitude / behavior (so-called KAB studies), prevention, compliance / adherence and drug abuse.
Because of these factors, the network has gained international visibility since it was founded in 2002 and is involved in a variety of international collaborations, for example in the European cohort association COHERE (Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe), in the European HIV treatment network NEAT (Network of European AIDS Treatment) and is involved in the international children's study consortium, MITOC (Mitochondrial Toxicity in Children), on scientific issues in children. There are collaborations with scientists and clinicians from many countries. For example, the Competence Network HIV / AIDS supports international cooperation in the area of HIV / AIDS through close cooperation with the Ukraine , with China (in particular with Zhejiang University in Hangzhou) and with Japan .
The exchange between Japanese and German scientists has taken place annually since 2005 in the form of German-Japanese HIV symposia. High-ranking researchers from both countries exchange the latest research results at the meetings, held annually alternately in Japan and Germany. In May 2010 the 5th German-Japanese HIV Symposium took place in Tokyo.
Partnerships
A cooperation between the Competence Network HIV / AIDS and the pharmaceutical industry takes place within the framework of defined scientific projects and studies. The Competence Network HIV / AIDS maintains a charity partnership with VfL Bochum .
See also
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- ↑ a b Homepage of the KompNet HIV / AIDS, here online ; last accessed on Feb. 24, 2009