B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Studies/projects

The epidemiology research team follows HIV infection in studies of high-risk sub-populations as they evolve over the long term. Studies include the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS), CEDAR, the Vanguard Project, the Community Health and Safety Evaluation Project (CHASE) and Evaluation of Supervised Injecting Study (eSIS). The data from these cohorts is imperative to informing allocation of resources to areas of emerging priority. Future research initiatives will focus on:

Extended recruitment and follow-up of Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS) participants.
The initiation and long-term follow-up of a new cohort of 600 young Aboriginal drug users to examine HIV vulnerability and the impact of mobility on HIV transmission within this sub-group.

The epidemiology team includes individuals with expertise in epidemiology, ethnography, anthropology, biomedical statistics and population health.

Studies/projects

Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS)
VIDUS is an ongoing investigation of over 1,300 injection drug users in Vancouver that began 1996. VIDUS provides a means of tracking HIV incidence and prevalence among injection drug users over time. The study has also provided the information necessary to evaluate and recommend outbreak interventions for this high risk and traditionally under-serviced group.

CEDAR – Understanding HIV vulnerability in young Aboriginal drug users (A multi-disciplinary northern-southern collaboration)
The Centre recently determined the incidence of HIV infection among Aboriginal participants in VIDUS was twice that of non-Aboriginal counterparts. The Centre is currently undertaking studies focusing on young Aboriginal drug users to determine why these people are at particularly high risk of HIV infection and to develop strategies that reduce this risk.

The Vanguard Project
The Vanguard project is one of the largest and longest running behavioural and HIV seroincident studies of young gay and bisexual men in North America. The purpose of this study is to identify determinants of high-risk sexual behaviour and substance abuse and continue studies of HIV incidence among this cohort. Recruitment began in May 1995, and closed in 2002. Follow-up will continue until the first quarter of 2004. Nationally, the Centre has developed links with researchers in B.C. and in Montreal. Internationally, the Centre has collaborated with sites in Europe and Australia, as well as the first Phase III efficacy trial of a candidate HIV vaccine (AIDSVAX). The Centre currently has CIHR funding to conduct a sub-study on the prevalence, incidence and determinants of human papillomaviruses infection and anal canal cell dysplasia in men who have sex with men.

The original Vanguard Project Webpage

Community Health and Safety Evaluation Project (CHASE)
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and its community partners have recognized the importance of an integrated health approach for marginalized persons located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. VCHA has opened four new facilities designed to enhance health services for this community. These include:

Downtown Community Health Centre
Pender Community Health Clinic
The Contact Centre
The Life Skills Centre

Rigorous evaluation is imperative to establish which programs and strategies are truly achieving their goals of improving health and reducing drug-related harms. The overall purpose of the CHASE project is to determine the health impact of these new initiatives on the residents of the DTES. To date, the CHASE Project has enrolled over 2000 individuals residing in the DTES and will prospectively follow the uptake of community health and social services among these participants.

The CHASE Project Webpage

eSIS
The Centre has been enlisted to evaluate North America’s first medically supervised injection facility, located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The Evaluation of Supervised Injecting Study (eSIS) will review the impact of the facility over a three-year period. The Centre study will evaluate changes in HIV risk behaviour, overdose rates, addiction treatment and public injecting since the site opened in September 2003.


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	PRINT Research Studies/projects The epidemiology research team follows HIV infection in studies of high-risk sub-populations as they evolve over the long term. Studies include the Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS), CEDAR, the Vanguard Project, the Community Health and Safety Evaluation Project (CHASE) and Evaluation of Supervised Injecting Study (eSIS). The data from these cohorts is imperative to informing allocation of resources to areas of emerging priority. Future research initiatives will focus on: Extended recruitment and follow-up of Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS) participants. The initiation and long-term follow-up of a new cohort of 600 young Aboriginal drug users to examine HIV vulnerability and the impact of mobility on HIV transmission within this sub-group. The epidemiology team includes individuals with expertise in epidemiology, ethnography, anthropology, biomedical statistics and population health. Studies/projects Vancouver Injection Drug User Study (VIDUS) VIDUS is an ongoing investigation of over 1,300 injection drug users in Vancouver that began 1996. VIDUS provides a means of tracking HIV incidence and prevalence among injection drug users over time. The study has also provided the information necessary to evaluate and recommend outbreak interventions for this high risk and traditionally under-serviced group. CEDAR – Understanding HIV vulnerability in young Aboriginal drug users (A multi-disciplinary northern-southern collaboration) The Centre recently determined the incidence of HIV infection among Aboriginal participants in VIDUS was twice that of non-Aboriginal counterparts. The Centre is currently undertaking studies focusing on young Aboriginal drug users to determine why these people are at particularly high risk of HIV infection and to develop strategies that reduce this risk. The Vanguard Project The Vanguard project is one of the largest and longest running behavioural and HIV seroincident studies of young gay and bisexual men in North America. The purpose of this study is to identify determinants of high-risk sexual behaviour and substance abuse and continue studies of HIV incidence among this cohort. Recruitment began in May 1995, and closed in 2002. Follow-up will continue until the first quarter of 2004. Nationally, the Centre has developed links with researchers in B.C. and in Montreal. Internationally, the Centre has collaborated with sites in Europe and Australia, as well as the first Phase III efficacy trial of a candidate HIV vaccine (AIDSVAX). The Centre currently has CIHR funding to conduct a sub-study on the prevalence, incidence and determinants of human papillomaviruses infection and anal canal cell dysplasia in men who have sex with men. The original Vanguard Project Webpage Community Health and Safety Evaluation Project (CHASE) The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and its community partners have recognized the importance of an integrated health approach for marginalized persons located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. VCHA has opened four new facilities designed to enhance health services for this community. These include: Downtown Community Health Centre Pender Community Health Clinic The Contact Centre The Life Skills Centre Rigorous evaluation is imperative to establish which programs and strategies are truly achieving their goals of improving health and reducing drug-related harms. The overall purpose of the CHASE project is to determine the health impact of these new initiatives on the residents of the DTES. To date, the CHASE Project has enrolled over 2000 individuals residing in the DTES and will prospectively follow the uptake of community health and social services among these participants. The CHASE Project Webpage eSIS The Centre has been enlisted to evaluate North America’s first medically supervised injection facility, located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The Evaluation of Supervised Injecting Study (eSIS) will review the impact of the facility over a three-year period. The Centre study will evaluate changes in HIV risk behaviour, overdose rates, addiction treatment and public injecting since the site opened in September 2003.