Ageing and comorbidities in people with HIV

This PhD opportunity is based at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, in the area of ageing and comorbidities in people with HIV. While people with HIV are living longer, due to effective and well-tolerated HIV treatment, there is still a much higher burden of ageing-related comorbidities in people with HIV compared to people without HIV. The reasons for this is multifactorial, but the chronic inflammation associated with long-term HIV infection is a major driver. This body of work seeks to connect inflammation-related biological drivers of ageing and measurable clinical outcomes of significant morbidity and mortality. 

The range of projects available include translational studies in an established cohort of older adults with and without HIV, evaluating biomarkers and outcomes in a clinical trial, and analysing data measuring gaps in care for women with HIV. Encompassing the fields of infectious diseases, immunology, gastroenterology, neurology and geriatrics, this program of work is truly representative of the multidisciplinary approach needed to optimise the care of ageing people with HIV.

There is a broad range of projects available including translational studies, analysis of data from randomised clinical trials, and epidemiologic data analysis of large datasets; the range of projects included in the PhD scope cprojects include

• Evaluating the impact of gut health and ageing biomarkers on neurocognitive decline and frailty
• Measuring ageing biomarkers and metabolomics in people in a randomised clinical trial evaluating a cardiometabolic agent.
• Analysing data collected in a cohort of women with HIV in Australia, an understudied population.
• Analysis of large datasets from national and international cohorts of people with HIV (e.g. the international RESPOND network)

Desired background: additional stipend above university scholarships are available for highly qualified applicants. A background in clinical training and experience with data analysis are preferred, though not required. 

Contact: Nila Dharan ndharan@kirby.unsw.edu.au