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The National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has awarded the University of Florida (UF) a $2.5
million grant to support studies on HIV infection and high-risk alcohol
consumption. Through this new grant, the Southern HIV Alcohol Research
Consortium (SHARC) will be able to establish an administrative and research
support arm to expand research sites across Florida, provide research training
support, create partnerships with Florida county health departments and HIV
clinics, and facilitate new research studies. Dr. Robert Cook is the consortium
administrative director and is an associate professor of epidemiology and
medicine at the UF College of Public Health & Health Professions and the
College of Medicine. Cook stated that the ultimate goal of the work is to put
into practice the research findings in clinical and public health settings,
help people reduce high-risk alcohol consumption, and improve health outcomes
in persons with HIV infection.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are
ranked first and second, respectively, in the United States in terms of HIV
infection rates per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. A Florida Department of Health study of HIV occurrence
within the state found that nearly 20 percent of African-American men who have
sex with men are living with HIV/AIDS. Cook said that HIV infection also is an
issue in rural areas, as well as for older adults. Over the past 10 years, the
number of HIV/AIDS cases in Florida has increased the most among residents age
50 and older.
The SHARC was established in 2011 to
bring together research teams at the UF, Florida International University, the
University of Miami, and Rush University in Chicago that are conducting
National Institutes of Health-funded research on alcohol consumption in people
with HIV. Previous studies have shown that 50 percent of men with HIV and 20 to
30 percent of women with HIV consume high-risk levels of alcohol. Such
behaviors can lead to adverse health effects such as increased risky sexual
behavior and lower medication adherence. As a result, persons with this
behavior have higher levels of HIV virus in the body and more rapid disease
progression. Cook leads a study that evaluates whether a prescription medication
used to curb alcohol cravings can help women with HIV reduce their alcohol
consumption, and improve their overall health.
The new administrative and research
program will support the ongoing consortium studies and facilitate new
projects. Researchers will have access to resources such as statistical
analysis services, central data management, and pharmaceutical and laboratory
support, in addition to new participant populations that more fully represent
Florida’s diverse population. The administrative core also will fund research
training and mentoring opportunities.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
