HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials & Research

Improving the Health of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Provider dressed in a white coat wearing glasses and a stethoscope listening to a patient.

The Center of Excellence for HIV/AIDS is the clinical arm of the Quillen College of Medicine's Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity (CIIDI). It is run by faculty and staff associated with CIIDI and its leadership team has contributed to HIV Clinical Research for over 25 years. Our mission is to improve the health of people living with HIV/AIDS by:

  • Learning more about the virus and the immune system
  • Discovering more about barriers to health services experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS
  • Clinical Trials using new and improved treatments for HIV
  • Finding cellular mechanisms for other health problems that are associated with HIV
  • We are ALWAYS searching for a CURE!

HIV/AIDS Research

Research is vital to academic medicine for educating doctors and biomedical scientists, discovering the causes and cures of disease, and translating that knowledge to patient care.

  • Immunopathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection with a focus on the innate immune response
  • Basic immunologic mechanisms underlying EBV latency and EBV/HIV co-infection leading to tumorigenesis
  • Immune response and latency during HIV infection

Research Participation FAQs

  • Do I qualify to participate in the research?

    To participate, you must: 

    • Be 18 years old
    • Donate a blood sample

  • What is the study about and why are we doing it?

    We are asking you to choose whether to volunteer for a research study that is unfunded and is intended to create a repository of human specimens for use in research. This initial information is to give you key information to help you decide whether to participate. We have included detailed information after this information. Ask the research team questions. Taking part in this study is completely voluntary.

  • What is the study about and how long will it last?

    By doing this study, we hope to establish a large repository of patient specimens related to human diseases for use in future research studies. Such specimens help us to learn how your body’s immune system deals with infections and inflammation. Your participation in this research will last only until you have provided a specimen to be placed in the repository.

  • What are the key reasons you might choose to volunteer for this study?

    You will not directly benefit from this study, but the collection of your specimens may contribute to key research conducted in future health-related studies.

  • What are the key reasons you might choose not to volunteer for this study?

    You may not want to volunteer for this study if you do not want your specimens used for research. The alternative is not participating in this research study.

  • Do you have to take part in the study?

    If you decide to take part in the study, it should be because you really want to volunteer. You will not lose any services, benefits or rights you would normally have if you chose not to volunteer.

  • What is expected if I take part in the study?

    For blood draws, less than 50mL of blood will be drawn and transferred into appropriate tubes. Any bleeding can usually be controlled with a chemical that stops bleeding and by applying pressure. The blood draw site is then covered with a bandage.

  • What possible risks or discomforts might I have if I take part in the study?

    This study may involve collection of a blood specimen. This collection will almost always involve collecting the specimen at the time you are already having blood drawn so that there is not an additional needlestick. There may be some discomfort, bruising, or bleeding at the site where the blood is drawn. Rarely, fainting occurs because of drawing blood.
    *Risks of the usual care you receive are not risks of this study.

  • How will my private information be protected?

    Every attempt will be made to see that my study results/data are kept confidential. A copy of the consent and data collection form will be stored on a HIPAA-compliant ETSU RedCap server in accordance with the record control schedule. Your medical records will be kept completely confidential according to current legal requirements, and will not be revealed unless required by law, or as described in this form.

Clinical Trials

The COE for HIV/AIDS is actively pursuing opportunities for clinical trials for our patients. At this time, we don't have active trials available, however, current opportunities exist.

For more information about research at CIIDI contact James Adkins, Internal Medicine Clinical Research Office Director, via phone (423) 439-6408 or email adkinsjl1@etsu.edu