Skip to main content

Transforming the understanding
and treatment of mental illnesses.

Celebrating 75 Years! Learn More >>

 Archived Content

The National Institute of Mental Health archives materials that are over 4 years old and no longer being updated. The content on this page is provided for historical reference purposes only and may not reflect current knowledge or information.

Global HIV-1 CSF Escape Consortium

Date

June 9, 2016

Location

Bethesda, MD

The NIMH Division of AIDS Research, with support from the NIH Office of AIDS Research, sponsored a meeting to establish a Global HIV-1 CSF Escape Consortium.

Effective Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has changed the nature of living with HIV such that sustained treatment can result in complete viral suppression. However, several clinical studies demonstrate that despite stable and successful control of HIV in the periphery, some patients still have detectable HIV virus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a phenomenon known as “CSF escape.” CSF escape presents a unique opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment, compartmentalization, persistence and resurgence of the CNS reservoir.

Researchers discussed the incidence/prevalence rates of CSF escape, causes of primary and secondary CSF escape, neuro-symptomatic and asymptomatic CSF escape, and identification of the key scientific research priorities pertaining to HIV-1 CSF escape. In addition, steps were outlined to establish a common database to catalogue these cases and facilitate collaborations. A meeting report will be published in the Journal of Virus Eradication.