Cohorts studies and epidemiological research play an essential role in supporting the MHRP mission and provide critical insights to help advance HIV prevention and therapeutic tools and optimize healthcare delivery services, such as care provided through the PEPFAR program.
MHRP's conducts cohort studies in North America, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. The Program recently partnered with the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch of WRAIR to launch an HIV epidemiology study in the Kingdom of Jordan, the first such study in the country.
This type of research helps identify and characterize at-risk populations to inform the development of both preventive and therapeutic products. Biomedical and other interventions will be more effective when the needs and traits of the end beneficiary are considered from the outset. Developing relationships with key populations through cohort research allows MHRP to evaluate new products in the populations that will need them most.
MHRP also conducts cohort studies to optimize the implementation of care delivery, such as the services provided with PEPFAR support. Following groups of patients enables tracking of health outcomes and performance indicators and facilitates pilot testing of new healthcare interventions.