EuroCoord: Enhancing clinical & epidemiological HIV research in Europe through cohort collaboration
Project Summary
The overarching aim of EuroCoord was to use the scientific strengths of each collaboration to ensure that the best, most competitive research is performed. Such a large, integrated network allowed a common virtual database to be established, which included data from over 250,000 people with HIV from many different settings across Europe and beyond.
EuroCoord’s multidisciplinary approach allows the following key areas of HIV research to be addressed, aimed at improving the management and life of HIV-infected individuals, whilst allowing us to explore differences within sub-groups:
- Characterising populations of people with HIV in Europe (including the epidemiology of different subtypes)
- Improving our understanding of pathogenesis (including understanding the mechanisms of non-progression)
- Documenting uptake of and response to therapy
- Evaluating the implications of long-term HIV infection and exposure to therapy
- Assessing the implications of specific management strategies
- Improving the management of hepatitis co-infection
- Tuberculosis (TB) among people with HIV
- HIV and AIDS in migrant populations in Europe
- Modelling the population of people living with HIV in Europe.
The Network also used its expertise to establish training programmes to improve research skills including courses in statistical techniques to allow researchers to undertake observational research of the highest calibre, and to provide basic and updated laboratory and clinical training to aid the management of people living with HIV.
Key Project Information
Dates: 01/01/2011-31/12/2015
UCL lead/Principal Investigator: Prof Kholoud Porter
Lead organisation: UCL Centre for Clinical Research, Epidemiology, Modelling and Evaluation (CREME)
Partners: Fondazione PENTA, Region Hovedstaden, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, University of Minsk, St. Pierre University Hospital, INSERM, University of Bonn, Robert Koch Institut, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ICoNA Foundation, Academic Medical Center, Stichting HIV Monitoring, National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene, Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, St. Petersburg City AIDS Centre, Fundació Privada Clínic per a la Recerca Bíomèdica, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Karolinska Institute, University of Zurich, Perinatal Prevention of AIDS Initiative, Cadpeople A/S, Genome Research Limited
Location: Europe, UK, Denmark, France, Belarus, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland
Funding: European Commission Framework Programme VII
Contact: kholoud.porter@ucl.ac.uk