We enroll persons from around the world who:
- Are HIV seropositive
- Maintain viral loads mostly below 2,000 copies/ml
- Are not currently on antiretroviral therapy (history of ART is acceptable as long as the person has been off treatment for at least one year)
- Are willing to have a blood draw for research purposes
For HIV Controllers
If you meet the criteria for eligibility and are interested in participating, please get in touch with our research staff by phone Kristin Moss (617) 643-3643 / Alice Tsao (617) 643-2368 or by email, elitecontrollerstudy@partners.org.
If you live in the Boston area, you can visit one of our enrollment sites to get involved with the study:
Massachusetts General Hospital- Kunle (617) 726-7921 Brigham and Women's Hospital- Florencia Pereyra (617) 732-8881 Lemuel Shattuck Hospital- Ellen (617) 971-3501 Fenway Community Health- Jake (617) 927-6085
If you are not in the Boston area, our staff can explain the study in more detail and enroll you by phone. We will confirm your eligibility by requesting your HIV-related medical history from your healthcare provider, as well as coordinate a blood draw at their office.
Your blood sample will be shipped directly from your provider’s office to The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard.
We may also arrange for you to come to Boston, if you are not local. We would coordinate the travel and lodging arrangments as well as cover your meal expenses during a 2-night, 3-day visit. You may be asked to donate a Whole Blood or Leukapheresis sample. Please call/email Kristin or Alice for more details about the procedures and appointment availability.
For HIV Health Professionals
We collaborate with HIV health professionals and researchers from around the world, and we welcome new collaborations.
If you have identified eligible HIV infected individuals within your practice you can refer them to us for enrollment in the study. To facilitate this process, The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard staff will explain the study in detail and obtain informed consent over the phone. As a provider you will be asked to share the study subject’s HIV-related history and to obtain a blood sample that is shipped to us at our cost. We will provide all blood draw and shipping materials and will reimburse you for your time commitment.
If your practice or Institution requires local regulatory oversight our study staff is able to assist with this process.
For HIV Scientists
If you work with HIV infected individuals that meet eligibility criteria and are interested, please contact us to establish a working collaboration.
For additional information, please call (617) 726-5536 / (617) 643-3643/ (617) 643-2368 or email: elitecontrollerstudy@partners.org.