Maastricht University
Assistant Professor Hanne Zimmermann
The ACCESS4EuRegion project is an innovative and collaborative testing intervention that will be embedded into the overarching HIV prevention “EuRegio project” which aims to reduce HIV risk among key populations in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and get to zero new infections in the region. The Euregio project is funded by Aidsfonds, Gilead, ViiV and the province of Limburg. Gilead has provided financial support for several projects within this initiative. The outcome of the supported projects have assessed the impact of the Corona crisis on HIV testing, PrEP access and the adherence to PrEP among high-risk populations in a Euregional setting. The most recent ACCESS4EuRegion project will provide insight into specific barriers to HIV-testing in a Euregional setting, evaluate whether a direct offer of a free and anonymous HIV-test can contribute to establish testing routines, and to create testing routines among individuals that are currently unaware of their HIV status.
For more information on this project, read more at https://www.lov4eu.com/. For more information on potential grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contacts for HIV, Marjolein Poen or Reon van Dyk.
Erasmus MC
Dr. Casper Rokx, Erasmus MC
#aware.hiv is a collaborative initiative set up by Erasmus MC and supported by the Dutch Federation of Medical Specialists. #aware.hiv aims to decrease HIV transmissions and late diagnoses by promoting earlier HIV diagnosis via unbiased HIV testing for all people diagnosed with HIV indicator conditions. This goal is in line with the United Nations commitment to end AIDS by 2030 by reducing new HIV infections. Its slogan ‘Dare to be aware’ stands for creating awareness and eliminating stigma around HIV indicator conditions in both the public and amongst healthcare professionals. It does so by having infectious disease specialists create awareness and normalize HIV testing amongst their peers as part of routine care for the people they diagnosed with HIV indicator conditions. Different elements of the #aware.hiv initiative as it has been set up in the Netherlands since 2019 have been co-sponsored by Gilead, ViiV Healthcare, Janssen, the AIDSfonds and SKMS. Together, the shared vision is that no person with an HIV indicator condition should remain untested.
#aware.hiv aims to improve proactive HIV indicator condition driven testing (as advised in national and international guidelines) by educating and empowering healthcare professionals and patients. The ambition is to generate data on the impact of proactive HIV testing of those diagnosed with HIV indicator conditions and to expand #aware.hiv to other centers. To help achieve this goal, an accredited eLearning and educational materials for HCPs have been developed, along with the organization of a national #aware.hiv awareness day and an online portal (http://www.awarehiv.com). The next step of this successful program is the roll-out in 10 countries in the #aware.hiv Europe program. The many expert stakeholders throughout Europe together endeavor to tackle a same unmet testing need in Europe to reach the UN goal to end HIV/AIDS on this continent (and beyond).
For more information on grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contact for HIV, Michael Wilcox.
OLVG
Dr. Kees Brinkman
OLVG aims to improve HIV care and reduce HIV-related stigma in Surinam. This is of special importance for the Netherlands given that approximately 4% of those with HIV in the country are of Carribean descent. Therefore, supporting HIV care in Surinam can also lead to improved HIV care for Dutch citizens of Surinamese descent. This support is especially needed after the near collapse of the healthcare system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This support is needed to evaluate the impact of the current economic system on the standard of HIV care and educate on topics such as prevention of mother-to-child-transmission, U=U, testing and linkage to care, HIV treatment guidance, and more.
OLVG aims to reach these goals by the implementation of yearly week-long educational activities in Surinam. The program consists of several educational presentations and a symposia with HIV-related topics presented to multiple stakeholders (e.g. medical students, dentists, pharmacists, general practitioners, patients and HIV treating physicians).
For more information on grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contact for HIV, Michael Wilcox.
AMC Medical Research B.V.
Dr. Marc van der Valk
The advent of LAR offers an expansion on treatment options and opportunity to reduce the frequency of treatment administration for people living with HIV (PWH). The perspective of the HCP is crucial in guiding treatment decisions for PWH. AMC Medical Research B.V. aims to assess the preferences of PWH for both current and future LAR options, as well as to evaluate HCP willingness to discuss these options with PWH. Additionally, the study will explore the background characteristics associated with the willingness to consider LAR.
To further investigate these aspects, a discrete choice experiment will be conducted. This quantitative technique is designed to elicit individual preferences and determine the relative importance of different attributes of LAR. These attributes include the mode of administration, frequency of administration, risk of viral resistance, risk of side effects, location of administration, and flexibility for delayed dosing.
For more information on grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contact for HIV, Michael Wilcox.
Maastricht University, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life
Sciences
Assistant Professor dr. Sarah Stutterheim
Grant subsidiary investigates psychosocial aspects of HIV across the continuum from primary prevention to testing, linkage to care, initiation, and adherence. She also extensively explores quality of life among people with HIV and social engagement with HIV cure efforts, seeking to move the field towards an ethical and equitable HIV cure for all.
Stigma around HIV and HIV preventive behaviors (e.g., PrEP use) remains high, also among youth. Young people increasingly use the internet to educate themselves about sexual health. The development of a social media TikTok campaign might have the capacity to improve young people’s engagement with HIV preventive behaviors and to normalize HIV in a population that will have substantial influence how HIV is viewed in the coming years. This campaign will, amongst others, focus on the provision of information to the general public on prevention methods for HIV and the different treatment options available for patients living with HIV. Furthermore, potential changes in HIV knowledge, as a result of the information published, will be evaluated. The TikTok campaign will be developed in collaboration with SOA Aids NL and young adults.
For more information on grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contacts for HIV, Marjolein Poen or Reon van Dyk.
Maastricht University
Dr. Tom Gevers
The MDL-department of the MUMC aims to improve the holistic control of liver cirrhosis in the Netherlands, with strict control of clinical and patient reported outcomes, lifestyle- and psychosocial risk factors. Stricter control of symptoms, by implementing telemedicine in routine care for liver cirrhosis, might reduce health-care utilisation for liver-related complications.
The aim is to develop a telemedicine system for patients with liver cirrhosis in everyday clinical practice using a structured approach, building on the MyIBDCoach, an e-health tool specifically developed for patients with Crohn’s disease or colitis ulcerosa. The feasibility of the system will be tested, as well as the effect on admissions, outpatient visits and disease outcomes.
For more information on this project, read more at https://stichtingmijncoach.nl/coaches/mijnlevercoach-zorgprofessional. For more information on grant support, reach out to our Gilead medical contacts for hepatitis, Marjolein Poen or Reon van Dyk.
Stichting VUmc
Dr. Inge Konings & Anna Visser, Amsterdam UMC
Amsterdam UMC is a leading medical center that combines complex high-quality patient care, innovative scientific research, and education of the next generation health care professionals. They believe that health care practice, research and education belong together, with each shaping and informing the other. Their mission is: Together we discover the healthcare of tomorrow.
The project ’A meaning-making conversation for patients with prolonged incurable cancer' is an example of the combination of patient care, innovation and education. Patients with prolonged incurable cancer is a growing group due to recent therapeutic advances. These patients can no longer be cured but may expect to live with their cancer diagnosis for a substantial period, which can cause existential questions. Until now, no intervention is designed specifically for these patients focusing on the existential dimension. A meaning-making conversation is expected to help patients validate their sources of meaning, which can help them deal with existential questions. Besides, a meaning-making conversation aims to educate health care providers on patients' existential needs. The objective of this project is not only to develop and evaluate the intervention with patients and health care professionals, but also to explore implementation of the tool in clinical practice.
The research-team in Amsterdam UMC consists of the following members:
For more information on grant support, reach out to the Gilead medical contact for Oncology, Debby Thijs.
BE-UNB-1380