The EDCTP Alumni Network

Fellowship 1
Profile

Call	Career Development Fellowship (CDF)
Programme	EDCTP2
Start Date	2021-06-01
End Date	2024-05-31
Project Code	TMA2020CDF-3195
Status	Active

Title

Can Undetectable (viral load) = Untransmissible (virus) change the life course of adolescents living the HIV in Africa?

Host Organisation

Institution	Country
Centre for Sexual Health and HIV AIDS Research Zimbabwe (CeSHHAR Zimbabwe)	Zimbabwe

Current Organisation

Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS

Current Job Title

Project Director

Students Supervised

Type	Name	Title	University	Start Date	End Date
	Zivai Nenguke			2021	2024

Memberships

Role	Committee/board	Start Date	End Date
Reviewer	Plosone	2021	2030

Education

Institution	Degree	Year
University College London, United Kingdom	PhD	2017-03-31
The London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE), United Kingdom	MSc	2009-10-31
University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe	BSc Hons	2002-07-31

Areas Of Specialisation

Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)

Grants

Grant Code:

LRFP- 2021-9172099

Source of funding:

End Fund, WHO TDR, UNICEF

Amount:

150000

Role:

Principal Investigator

Start Date:

2022-01-01

End Date:

2023-01-01

Publications

Projects

Fellow:

Zivai Nenguke

Collaborators:

Name	Country	Institution
Zivai Nenguke	Zimbabwe	CeSHHAR

Objectives:

To determine viral load fluctuation between routine annual VL testing and the extent to which annual VL using DBS reflects short term fluctuations that occur in the interim. 2. To determine what proportion of ALHIV with viral load <1000 copies/uL on DBS have a plasma VL less than 200 copies/uL 3. To explore the reasons for and adolescent’s understandings of fluctuations in VL (measured using standard of care DBS) and what a VL<1000 copies/mL means to ALHIV 4. To explore the perceived risks and opportunities of incorporating U=U into routine HIV treatment and care for ALHIV in LIC 5. To explore with key stakeholders the implications of our findings for the feasibility and framing of the U=U message in LIC for ALHIV.

Sites:

Harare

Study Design:

Longitudinal mixed method study

Subjects:

Adolescent living with HIV

Outcomes:

The study will provide scientific evidence on whether routine VL testing using DBS as available in LIC can provide sufficiently robust evidence of ‘undetectability’ and on the variability of an individual’s virological response over 12 months and between those considered undetectable (<1000) and those undetectable and untransmissible (<200). The study will assist in developing an evidence-base to support the U=U integration into standard of care and to maximise the opportunities that the investment in viral load monitoring could bring for adapting and strengthening care and support to improve adolescent HIV outcomes. It will generate peer-reviewed publications and educational resources.

Start Date:

2022-04-04