Division of AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

From its inception in 2007, the Division of AIDS has worked collaboratively with the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) (est. 1992) and the AIDS Research Program at St. Paul’s Hospital/UBC (est. 1988). Our divisional members are involved in various areas of research which are highlighted as follows.

The AIDS Research Program (ARP) continues to actively investigate the following areas of interest through its participation in clinical trials and observational cohort studies:

• Optimizing use of investigational and new antiretroviral agents
• Antiretroviral treatment simplification
• Optimal management of treatment-experienced patients with drug-resistant HIV
• Pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral drugs and interactions with concomitant medications
• Impact and management of:
  • complications of antiretroviral therapy e.g. nephrotoxicity, osteopenia/osteoporosis
  • co-infections e.g. viral hepatitis B and C
  • other comorbidities e.g. neurocognitive dysfunction, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease

The BC-CfE, under Dr. Montaner’s direction, continues to work on expanding access to HIV/AIDS drugs to the street-involved population in Vancouver’s downtown eastside and Prince George (aka “STOP HIV/AIDS” - Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS). This project aims to increase HAART coverage among eligible HIV-positive individuals. Ongoing monitoring of the impact of such HAART expansion on HIV incidence, as well as AIDS morbidity and mortality over several years will be critical to inform the ongoing debate surrounding the potential effectiveness of treatment as prevention strategies. This work is supported in part by the Provincial Government and an Avant Garde Award from the National Institute for Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Information
Division of AIDS
Room 667, 1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 1Y6
Telephone: 604-806-8036

Fax:  604-806-8527
Email: jmontaner@cfenet.ubc.ca

Head
Dr. Julio Montaner, MD, Professor and Division Head

Members

P. Richard Harrigan, PhD, Associate Professor

Thomas Kerr, PhD, Assistant Professor

David Moore, MDCM, MHSc, Assistant Professor

Kate Shannon, PhD, Assistant Professor

Evan Wood, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor

Mark W. Hull, MD, MHSc, Clinical Assistant Professor

Viviane Dias Lima, PhD, Assistant Professor

Ms. Kelly Hsu, Administrator


For more information on AIDS or the HIV/AIDS Research Program, please explore these useful websites:

BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS www.cfenet.ubc.ca
British Columbia Persons with AIDS Society www.bcpwa.org