SATREPS Project for Establishment of the "bench-to-bedside" feedback system for sustainable ART and prevention of new HIV transmission

In 2019, the new project was launched by the AIDS Clinical Center (ACC) and the Kumamoto University Center for AIDS research in collaboration with National Hospital for Tropical Disease and Hanoi Medical University, namely "bench-to-bedside feedback system and prevention for new HIV-1 infection project". This project falls under the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program for Global Issues (SATREPS) jointly implemented by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

1) Establishment of ART monitoring system
We established a blood sample transport system and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) monitoring system for 10 hospitals in Northern Vietnam and National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The system enabled medical staffs to regularly check the viral load and drug resistance of HIV patients. Through prompt data utilization at the treatment sites, we provided more effective treatments, such as selecting the most appropriate anti-retroviral drug.

2)Examination of the effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
We investigated association between PrEP failure (HIV-infection), drug-resistant HIV, and medication adherence among those who participate PrEP program conducted by Hanoi Medical University. We evaluated effectiveness of PrEP in Vietnam through the investigation.

3) Basic Medical Analysis for the design of HIV vaccine
This research was led by Kumamoto University. In this study, the cellular immunity of HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men (MSM) exposed to HIV was examined and antigen information was collected for AIDS vaccine design using samples from MSM cohort of Hanoi Medical University,

4) Evaluation of the virological efficacy of salvage ART
We have prospectively evaluated ART’s virological efficacy among HIV patients. This includes those patients who had a history of failed ART and determining the patterns of drug resistance mutation before and after ART among PLWHIV. Investigation of ART failure rate in HIV clinics were also conducted to be able to understand and determine the needs of ART.

5)Evaluation study of COVID-19’s impact on HIV medical care system and People Living with HIV
Since June of 2020, we’ve conducted an evaluation study of COVID-19’s impact on HIV medical care system and its social psychological impact on PLWHIV. Questionnaires were also distributed and to identify antibody prevalence among PLWHIV in facilitates that are included in SATREPS project, on areas with COVID-19 outbreaks.