AIDS Clinical Trial Group Laboratory Center

ABSTRACT
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) has been at the forefront of clinical research to advance
HIV therapeutics and improve the health of patients living with HIV/AIDS for over 30 years.
Rigorous scientific research conducted by the ACTG has laid the cornerstones for current HIV
treatment guidelines. In this application for the competitive renewal of the ACTG Network
Laboratory Center, we propose a transformative laboratory research agenda that draws on an
international consortium of prominent clinical and laboratory investigators in collaboration with a
world-class Statistical and Data Management Center to conduct leading edge laboratory
research, testing, assay development and laboratory training for the support of innovative
interventional clinical trials. The ACTG Network Laboratory Center will improve scientific
knowledge and technical capability by providing state-of-the-art laboratory support in the four
NIH/DAIDS priority areas: antiretroviral therapy (ART) free HIV remission, 2) novel therapeutics
targeting HIV, 3) tuberculosis, and 4) HIV co-morbidities, including neurologic complications and
hepatitis B cure. The continued expansion of an effective, quality-assured laboratory program at
domestic and international sites for protocol safety measures, state-of-the-art assays for
virology and tuberculosis, immunology and biomarkers, pharmacology, and genomics will
provide the essential framework for advancing the scientific agenda of the ACTG Network. The
Laboratory Center will continue to provide oversight of established specimen and human DNA
repositories for the ACTG Network, harmonize specific laboratory testing and standardized
operating procedures with other networks, where feasible, and support the laboratory training of
technologists and investigators domestically and internationally.

Grant Number: 3UM1AI106701-13S1
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Grace Aldrovandi