Joint Clinical Research Centre

JCRC Research Collaborative Networks

Almost all research and training activities conducted at JCRC are performed in collaboration with national and/or international institutions. Over the years, collaborative research has been instrumental in standardising the research practices at JCRC, so as to meet international standards. Among the notable research and training networks to which JCRC has maintained over the years include ACTG, MRC CTU, CWRU, PharmAccess, and others.

JCRC - ACTG Research Collaboration

Since 2007, JCRC has been a site for the AIDS TRIALS Clinical Group (ACTG) trials. Several clinical trials are being conducted under this partnership, including:

A5221: A Strategy of Immediate versus Deferred Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-Infected Persons Treated for Tuberculosis with CD4<200 cells/mm3. This study is investigating the optimal time for the initiation of ART among previously ART-Naive patients that present with active tuberculosis.
A5207: Optimal Combination therapy after nevirapine exposure (OCTANE). This study is investigating various approaches to PMTCT, particularly the benefit by the introduction of extended use of NRTIs and or a Boosted PI, in the prevention of ART resistance that has previously been observed in PMTCT interventions that rely on Single dose Nevirapine.
A5208: A Phase II Randomised Comparison of Three Antiretroviral Strategies Administered for 7 or 21 Days to Reduce the Emergence of Nevirapine Resistant HIV-1 Following a Single Intrapartum Dose of Nevirapine (Maintaining Options for Mothers Study). This is also known as the MOMs Study. This study is investigating the optimal first line ART regimen for women that were previously exposed to Single dose nevirapine during labour.
A5234: Modified Directly Observed Therapy Versus Self-Administered Therapy for Participants with First Virologic Failure on a Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Containing Antiretroviral Regimen. This is an intervention study to evaluate the added benefit of trained treatment support partners to supervise ART at home, for patients initiating second line ART after failure of the first line. It is conducted in limited ACTG sites.

Two new protocols under this collaboration have been reviewed by the JCRC-IRB and are scheduled to commence soon:

A5265: "A Phase III, Open-Label, Randomized, Assessment-Blinded Clinical Trial to Compare the Safety and efficacy of Topical Gentian Violet to that of Nystatin Oral Suspension for the treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in HIV-1 Infected participants in Non-US Settings

ACTG 5264: "A Randomised Evaluation of Antiretroviral Therapy alone or with Delayed Chemotherapy versus Antiretroviral Therapy with Immediate Adjunctive Chemotherapy for Treatment of Limited Stage AIDS-KS in Resource-Limited Settings (REACT-KS)"