September saw the CARMA study complete its enrollment target of 40 patients. Reservoir size assays have been performed, and primary statistical analyses are ongoing. Over the coming weeks, some results relating immunological and virological assays will be released and discussed internally within the EPIICAL Consortium at General Assembly meeting in November.
The CARMA Study (Child and Adolescent Reservoir Measurements on early suppressive ART) is a cross-sectional study enrolling well controlled HIV-perinatally infected children and adolescents in order to identify the factors that influence the establishment of a low total HIV DNA. Also, CARMA intends to investigate the breadth and magnitude of HIV-specific immunity and the viral correlates of well-controlled children with a low reservoir size.