COBRA

Objective

COBRA’s main objectives and underlying sub objectives are:

1. To establish the link between HIV infection and age-associated non-communicable co-morbidities (AANCC).
   1.1) To determine and compare the prevalence, incidence and outcomes of AANCC, including neurocognitive co-morbidity, in a cohort of middle-aged HIV-infected subjects with sustained HIV suppression on cART and similarly aged HIV-uninfected subjects, through comprehensive clinical and laboratory diagnostic means.
2. To elucidate and clarify this link by identifying its causative and underlying pathogenic mechanism(s)
   2.1) To elucidate in the HIS mouse model the causative effect of HIV infection on metabolic changes which underlie certain AANCC in persons living with HIV.
   2.2) To elucidate in the HIS mouse model the potential causative effect of cART on metabolic changes which underlie certain AANCC in persons living with HIV.
   2.3) To clarify a number of possible pathogenic mechanisms, including the possible induction of an inflammation associated accelerated ageing phenol-type, underlying the causative link between HIV and AANCC through the use of a comprehensive range of biomarkers reflecting these mechanisms, in samples obtained from both the HIS mouse model and the clinical cohort.