Over 30 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), mostly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite global recommendations for routine VL and CD4 testing to detect ART adherence issues, treatment failure, and guide clinical decisions, major diagnostic gaps persist in LMICs due to limited laboratory capacity, especially in rural or underserved areas. These challenges are compounded by reagent shortages, equipment downtime, and high costs, resulting in delayed or infrequent testing. There is an urgent need for scalable, accurate, and affordable diagnostic solutions that support both point-of-care (POC) and centralized testing using easily transportable sample types.

Expanding on and utilizing the research and technology scouting infrastructure built by the R2D2 TB Network, the R2D2 TB to HIV Network (R2D2 HIVPlus) aims to drive the development of innovative tools for HIV disease management.

 

Activities under R2D2 HIVPlus Networks

Like our TB work, the R2D2 HIVPlus network we offer diverse avenues of support to drive the development of innovative HIV diagnostic solutions under R2D2 HIVPlus. Currently our technology scouting activities for HIV focus on:

  1. HIV viral load (HIV VL) tests,
  2. CD4 tests, and
  3. Point-of-care (POC) plasma separation devices.

We offer access to the following at no cost to developers:

  • Product development guidance from our team of experts in HIV diagnostics and insights in the latest research, regulatory requirements, and market considerations;
  • Matchmaking with compatible development partners;
  • Adaptive, master protocols to enable rapid and iterative inclusion and evaluation of early/ate stage prototypes and large-scale validation studies;
  • Policy-relevant trials of design-locked products;
  • Experienced clinical trial sites in Asia (Philippines) and sub-Saharan Africa (Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia)

For more details and to explore potential collaborations on HIV diagnostic technologies, check out the Technology Scouting and Review webpage.

R2D2 HIVPlus Network Members

Investigators

  • Seda Yerlikaya, UKHD (Principal Investigator)

  • Claudia Denkinger, UKHD

  • Adithya Cattamanchi, UCI

  • Fred Semitala, IDRC

  • John Bimba, ZRC-BU

  • Grant Theron, Stellenbosch University

  • Cherry Taguiang Abu, DLSMHSI

  • Monde Muyoyeta, CIDRZ

Staff

  • Devy Emperador, UKHD (Scientific Lead)

  • Lydia Holtgrewe, UKHD (Technology Officer)

  • Agnes Malobela, UKHD (Clinical Trial Manager)

Funding

 

Gates Foundation INV-081068