A new study by
Philadelphia doctor Kathleen Squires seeks to be the first
major exploration of ways in which HIV/AIDS treatment
affects people differently based upon race and gender,
the Philadelphia Gay News reported Friday.
Squires's GRACE
study will start next month with space for approximately
420 participants, 70% of whom will be women, a major
accomplishment in the world of AIDS studies and drug
trials.
"We've really
strived to include not only women but also a racial
diversity that is representative of actual HIV infection.
We're looking at the safety and efficacy of a commonly
prescribed antiretroviral agent called Darunavir,"
said Squires, a professor of medicine and director of
the Division of Infectious Diseases at Jefferson Medical
College. "If you look at the history of the HIV
population, the greatest concentration of the virus
was found in gay men. But as the disease has evolved,
we've seen a sizable increase in the female and nonwhite
population. Our challenge now is to recognize and address
these populations. We need to include these people and
pay attention to changes if we want to understand how
to use HIV drugs properly."
Squires hopes the
findings of this study will inspire further research
and change conventional thinking about HIV treatment and the
changing faces of the infected population. (The
Advocate)