REACH was a collaborative effort to fill the knowledge and data gaps on the HIV epidemic affecting children, adolescents and pregnant women across Russia. It provided new data on long-term antiretroviral therapy toxicity, HIV resistance, Hepatitis C virus and Tuberculosis coinfections and comorbidities in this setting. Visit the REACH website.
What was REACH?
Research on HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and/or hepatitis C (HCV) in patients with mono-, co-infections and/or comorbidities in the context of fostering collaboration with the Russian Federation
REACH addressed key research questions in the global health response to the epidemics of HIV, HCV and TB in the priority populations of pregnant women, children and adolescents. REACH built on long-standing, successful collaborations between European clinical research networks with track records of delivering innovative research across the three infections with leading collaborators from 7 centres of excellence in Siberian, Northwestern and Central districts of the Russian Federation. REACH was coordinated by Penta.
Why was REACH needed?
The high burden of intersecting epidemics of these 3 infections pose a major public health challenge to Russia and the broader European region. The global health goals of ending AIDS, reducing TB deaths and new HCV cases by 90% by 2030 can only be realized if the unique health needs are considered and targeted research to these priority populations is undertaken to optimize the impact of innovations in diagnostics and treatment.
What was REACH goal?
REACH conducted joint research to better understand the epidemiology, disease progression, treatment and outcomes of HIV, TB and HCV mono- and co-infections among pregnant women, children and adolescents in the Russian Federation, contributing to the reduction of related morbidity and mortality in these vulnerable groups. REACH also exchanged knowledge, build capacity and prepare for future collaborative research on HIV, TB and HCV in children, adolescents and pregnant women in the Russian Federation, engaging and involving patients in all activities.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 825579