Clinical Trials - Froedtert, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW)
As an academic institution, the Froedtert Hospital Infectious Disease clinic is able to offer opportunities to participate in a variety of clinical trials. MCW faculty are engaged in a variety of clinical research trials conducted in collaboration with research networks and industry sponsored-trials. Faculty also practice at the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin and are able to offer most of the clinical trials through that location as well.
INSIGHT - PI: Michael Frank, MD - The Medical College of Wisconsin's Division of Infectious Diseases has been an affiliate site for the International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT) as an enrolling site for the SMART trial. The SMART trial (Strategies for the Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy) investigated whether it was better to treat patients with HIV continuously with antiretrovirals or to treat them episodically based on immune function. We have recently been selected as an enrolling site in the START trial. The START trial (Strategic Timing of Anti-Retroviral Treatment)
The purpose of this randomized study is to determine the optimal timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) with regard to morbidity and mortality among HIV-1 infected patients who are naïve to ART and have CD4 + cell counts greater than 500 cells/mm3. This study will randomize participants to two study arms: (1) immediate initiation of ART; and, (2) deferred ART until the participant’s CD4+ cell count decreases to less than 350 cells/mm3. This study will answer an important and controversial question regarding the optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy. Current guidelines recommend earlier initiation of ART, but no randomized-control trials have been done to address this important question.
INSIGHT is one of six HIV/AIDS clinical trial networks funded in 2006 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health. INSIGHT's mission is to define optimal strategies for the management of HIV and other infectious diseases through a global clinical research network. INSIGHT conducts studies worldwide.
CRI - PI: Andrew Petroll, MD - In 2009, the Medical College of Wisconsin became a research site with the Community Research Initiative (CRI) network. CRI is the only independent, nonprofit, community-based organization in New England dedicated to HIV clinical research, treatment education, and financial assistance for approved drug treatments and health insurance coverage. Through CRI, MCW participated in the LARD trial. The LARD trial investigated whether it was safe to switch patients on lopinavir/ritonavir or fosamprenavir/ritonavir to either atazanavir/ritonavir or darunavir/ritonavir. It also sought to determine whether that switch in protease inhibitor would reduce participants' elevated triglyceride levels.
Industry Sponsored Trials:
A number of faculty serve as Principal Investigators for industry-sponsored trials. These trials are often done to determine if drugs are safe and effective. Ongoing trials involve the following investigational agents:
For more information about any of our HIV clinical trials, please contact our study coordinators, Mandy Kastner at 414-805-0737 or mkastner@mcw.edu or Sonija Parker at 414-805-0708 or smparker@mcw.edu.