During HIV cure-related clinical trials, participants may be asked to temporarily stop taking their HIV medications. This is needed to determine whether an experimental HIV cure-related intervention could keep HIV controlled in the absence of treatment. This processed is known as analytical treatment interruptions or ATIs.
During the PERSIST study, we will follow ATI trial participants before, during, and after the interruption of HIV medications. We will measure various psychosocial outcomes, such as the anxiety of being off ART.
We hope to understand the realities that come with being part of an HIV cure-related trials that require an extended pausing of antiretroviral treatment. In this process, we hope to gain insight on how to better support our participants in future HIV cure-related research.