MHRP partners with the Institute for HIV Research at the University of Bonn to conduct cohort studies for HIV and related infections in Germany.
Collaborating with institute Director Dr. Hendrik Streeck, MHRP conducted a longitudinal cohort study at 10 sites in Germany to evaluate the incidence of HIV subtype B among an at-risk subpopulation and determine the feasibility of conducting an HIV vaccine efficacy trial there in the future. In addition, the study, called BRAHMS, is the largest systematic epidemiological study for sexual transmitted diseases in Germany to characterize incidence and prevalence for common and uncommon STIs.
BRAHMS is MHRP’s first clinical study in Europe and is part of the Program’s effort to focus on subtype B vaccine development. Subtype B is the third most common HIV subtype, primarily affecting Europe, Australia and North America, and is the most common subtype affecting U.S. Service Member populations. The Army-led RV144 Thai trial, the first vaccine study to show modest efficacy in preventing HIV infection, focused on subtype AE, and two currently ongoing Phase 3 HIV vaccine trials are taking place in subtype C prevalent regions in Africa.
Another protocol, RV464, which focuses on cohort and site development for acute HIV studies, began in 2018 at sites in Germany and is currently enrolling participants.