News Archive

2024

New Publication: Alcohol consumption among persons living with HIV: perceptions, messages and interventions – a qualitative study at an HIV treatment clinic in South Western Uganda. (Asiimwe et al., 2024, AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Socioeconomic status and CD4 count among people with HIV who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Idrisov et al., AIDS Behav, 2024)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Association between smoking and lack of HIV virological suppression in a cross-sectional study of persons with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. (Tumwegamire et al., 2024, PLoS One)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Comparative costs and potential affordability of a multifaceted intervention to improve treatment outcomes among people with HIV who inject drugs in Russia: economic evaluation of the LINC-II randomized controlled trial. (Rosen et al., 2024, J Int AIDS Soc)

New Publication: Pilot RCT comparing low-dose naltrexone, gabapentin and placebo to reduce pain among people with HIV with alcohol problems. (Tsui et al., 2024, PLoS One)

New Publication: Heavy Alcohol Use and HIV Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Pain. (Lucero et al., 2024, AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Stigma and other correlates of sharing injection equipment among people with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Kimmel et al., 2024, Glob Public Health)

New Publication: Is Abstinence from Alcohol and Smoking Associated with Less Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among People with HIV? (Freibott et al., 2024, AIDS Behav)

2023

New Publication: Alcohol consumption and illicit drug use: associations with fall, fracture, and acute healthcare utilization among people with HIV infection. (Kim et al., 2023, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Self-medication of pain and discomfort with alcohol and other substances by people with HIV infection and substance use disorder: preliminary findings from a secondary analysis. (Stein et al., 2023, AIDS Care)

New Publication: Healthcare utilization among persons with HIV and unhealthy alcohol use in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Biondi et al., 2023, AIDS Behav)

We are happy to announce that the TALC study, led by Dr. Kaku So-Armah, has received supplemental funding to launch the TB HIV Aging in Uganda 50-over-50 (THAU 50/50) study (3P01AA029541-03S1). The THAU study will build on the infrastructure of the TALC study to accomplish the following specific aims:

Aim 1: Determine the association between lifetime alcohol exposure and frailty and explore whether a) aging; b) history of TB disease moderates this association among PWH.
Aim 2: Determine the association between social vulnerability and a) aging; b) history of TB disease in PWH.
Aim 3: Qualitatively elicit health priorities and opportunities for differentiated healthcare delivery among older PWH with prior TB or unhealthy alcohol use.

New Publication: Association of Alcohol Consumption With CD4 Recovery After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in St. Petersburg, Russia. (McLaughlin et al., 2023, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr)

New Publication: Understanding Patients’ Experiences with a Brief Alcohol Reduction Intervention among People Living with HIV in Uganda: A Qualitative Study. (Gichane et al., 2023, Subst Use Misuse)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Provider-patient experiences and HIV care utilization among people living with HIV who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Raj et al. 2023, Int J Qual Health Care)

New Publication: Rapid access to antiretroviral therapy, receipt of naltrexone, and strengths-based case management versus standard of care for HIV viral load suppression in people with HIV who inject drugs in Russia (LINC-II): an open-label, randomised controlled trial. (Samet et al. 2023, Lancet HIV)

New Publication: Safety and tolerability of isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis for persons with HIV with and without alcohol use. (Hahn et al. 2023, AIDS)

New Publication: Cannabis use frequency and pain interference among people with HIV. (Klepp et al. 2023, AIDS Care)

New Publication: The impacts of COVID-19 on structural inequities faced by people living with HIV who inject drugs: A qualitative study in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Carroll et al. 2023, Int J Drug Policy)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: An acceptance-based, intersectional stigma coping intervention for people with HIV who inject drugs—a randomized clinical trial. (Luoma et al. 2023, Lancet Reg Health Eur)

New Publication: Effect of two counseling interventions on self-reported alcohol consumption, alcohol biomarker phosphatidylethanol (PEth), and viral suppression among persons living with HIV (PWH) with unhealthy alcohol use in Uganda: A randomized controlled trial. (Hahn et al., Drug Alcohol Depend)

New Publication: Polysubstance use patterns associated with HIV disease severity among those with substance use disorders: A latent class analysis. (Bertholet et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs)

New Publication: Impact of alcohol use disorder severity on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral suppression and CD4 count in three international cohorts of people with HIV. (Bertholet et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res)

New Publication: Virally suppressed people living with HIV who use opioids have diminished latency reversal. (Basukala et al., Viruses)

New Publication: Food insecurity and transmission risks among people with HIV who use substances. (Idrisov et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Study protocol for a pilot randomized trial of a virtual occupational therapy fall prevention intervention for people with HIV and alcohol use. (Shin et al., Subst Abuse)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

2022

New Publication: Bar Attendance and Alcohol Use Before and After COVID-19 Related Restrictions Among HIV-infected Adults in South-Western Uganda. (Asiimwe et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Unhealthy alcohol use and intimate partner violence among men and women living with HIV in Uganda. (Miller et al., BMC Public Health)

New Publication: Agreement between measures of adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy among people with HIV in Uganda. (Forman et al., Open Forum Infect Dis)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with sub-optimal adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy in persons with HIV in southwestern Uganda. (Muyindike et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr)

New Publication: Cell phone availability and usage for mHealth and intervention delivery to persons living with HIV in a low-resource setting: Cross-sectional study. (Adong et al., JMIR Form Res)

New Publication: Alcohol and falls among people with HIV infection: A view from Russia and the United States. (Kim et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res)

New Publication: Effectiveness of varenicline and cytisine for alcohol use reduction among people with HIV and substance use: A randomized clinical trial. (Tindle et al., JAMA Netw Open)

New Publication: Correlates of intersectional HIV and substance use stigma affecting people with HIV and substance use in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Lodi et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: HIV, substance use, and intersectional stigma: Associations with mental health among persons living with HIV who inject drugs in Russia. (Hook et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Impulsivity and linkage to HIV Care among people living with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Dey et al., AIDS Behav)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: The impact of alcohol use disorder on tuberculosis: A review of the epidemiology and potential immunologic mechanisms. (Wigger et al., Front Immunol)

New Publication: Impact of illicit opioid use on markers of monocyte activation and systemic inflammation in people living with HIV. (Kholodnaia et al., PLoS One)

New Publication: Supporting the health of HIV-positive people who inject drugs during COVID-19 and beyond: Lessons for the United States from St. Petersburg, Russia. (Carroll et al., AJPH)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Testing and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in people living with HIV and substance dependence: a prospective cohort study. (Runels et al., BMJ Open)

URBAN ARCH invites poster abstract submissions from trainees and early stage investigators for the 2022 URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting to be held on May 10th, 2022. Abstract submissions should focus on alcohol/HIV research. Research previously presented or submitted to other conferences is welcome. Please submit your abstract here by Monday, April 4, 2022.

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infectious (CROI) 2022: Alcohol use and suboptimal adherence to Isoniazid in persons with HIV and latent TB (Muyindike et al.)

New Publication: Exploring the association between social support and hazardous alcohol use among persons living with HIV in South Western Uganda. (Ngabirano et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Stigma and ART initiation among people with HIV and a lifetime history of illicit drug use in Saint-Petersburg, Russia-A prospective cohort analysis. (Vetrova et al., Int J Drug Policy)

New Publication: Addressing intersectional stigma as a care barrier for HIV-positive people who inject drugs: Design of an RCT in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Rossi et al., Contemp Clin Trials Commun)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Publication: Exploring the association between social support and hazardous alcohol use among persons living with HIV in South Western Uganda. (Ngabirano et al., AIDS Behav)

2021

New Publication: Addressing intersectional stigma as a care barrier for HIV-positive people who inject drugs: Design of an RCT in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Rossi et al., Contemp Clin Trials Commun)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Award: Rich Saitz received the 2021 David C. Lewis Award from AMERSA for his outstanding work and leadership in substance use education, research, clinical care, and policy.

New Grant: Congratulations to Rich Saitz and Michael Stein on receiving a P01 grant addressing chronic pain and physical inactivity in people living with HIV with unhealthy alcohol use.

New Grant: Congratulations to Jeffrey Samet on receiving a P01 grant examining the role of alcohol use on new TB acquisition, occurrence of active TB disease after TB preventative therapy, and post-TB lung disease among people living with HIV.

New Grant: Congratulations to Matthew Freiberg on receiving a P01 grant determining if a tailored probiotic can mitigate alcohol associated gut dysbiosis and lower levels of microbial translocation, inflammation, and improve harmful dysbiotic metabolite profiles, and if these metabolites are associated with incident CVD and death among PLWH.

New Publication: The drinkers’ intervention to prevent tuberculosis (DIPT) trial among heavy drinkers living with HIV in Uganda: study protocol of a 2×2 factorial trial. (Lodi et al., Trials)

New Publication: Alcohol consumption and tryptophan metabolism among people with HIV prior to antiretroviral therapy initiation: The Uganda ARCH cohort study. (Pierre et al., Alcohol Alcohol)

New Publication: Prevalence of elevated liver transaminases and their relationship with alcohol use in people living with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy in Uganda. (Freiman et al., PLoS One)

New Publication: Alcohol consumption and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. (Fuster et al., Viruses)

New Publication: Factors associated with phosphatidylethanol (PEth) sensitivity for detecting unhealthy alcohol use: An individual patient data meta-analysis. (Hahn et al., Alcohol Clin Exp Res)

New Publication: Per-protocol analysis of the ZINC trial for HIV disease among alcohol users. (Lodi et al., Trails)

New Publication: The Hepatitis C continuum of care among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Corcorran et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Post-traumatic stress disorder among persons with HIV who engage in heavy alcohol consumption in southwestern Uganda. (Kekibiina et al., BMC Psychiatry)

New Publication: Heavy alcohol use among women and men living with HIV in Uganda, Russia, and the United States. (Gnatienko et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs)

New Publication: Pilot study of tolerability and safety of opioid receptor antagonists as novel therapies for chronic pain among persons living with HIV with past year heavy drinking: a randomized controlled trialBendiks et al, AIDS Care)

New Publication: The Hepatitis C continuum of care among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Corcorran et al., AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Cultural of an to with HIV in Southwestern Uganda. (Leddy et al, AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Alcohol and C (HCV) RNA in HIV/HCV . (Fuster et al., Viruses)

New Publication: Prevalence of elevated liver transaminases and their relationship with alcohol use in people living with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy in Uganda. (Freiman et al., PLoS One)

New Publication: Lack of association between recent cannabis use and advanced liver fibrosis among HIV-positive heavy drinkers. (Fuster et al., Curr HIV Res)

New Publication: The ‘ to (DIPT) trial among heavy drinkers living with HIV in Uganda: study protocol of a 2×2 factorial trial. (Lodi et al., Trials)

New Publication: Cultural adaptation of an intervention to reduce hazardous alcohol use among people living with HIV in Southwestern Uganda. (Leddy et al, AIDS Behav)

Judith Hahn (Uganda ARCH PI) to present at the 2021 Spring PEth-NET online conference on March 9. Details here.

New Publication: Diagnostic accuracy of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay in small hair samples for rifampin-resistant tuberculosis drug concentrations in a routine care setting. (Metcalfe et al, BMC Infect Dis)

New Publication: HIV and substance use stigma, intersectional stigma and healthcare among HIV positive PWID in Russia. (Vetrova et al, AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Hazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the U.S., India, Russia and Vietnam. (Wagman et al, AIDS)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

New Supplements: The URBAN ARCH Uganda Cohort, Boston Cohort, and Russia Cohort were all awarded supplements to study issues related to COVID-19! Information on these supplements can be found here.

New Publication: Tuberculin skin test positivity among HIV-infected alcohol drinkers on antiretrovirals in south-western Uganda. (Muyindike et al, PLoS One)

New Publication: Heavy and HIV in Uganda, Russia, and the United States. (Gnatienko et al., J Stud Alcohol Drugs)

2020

New Publication: Assessing the interaction between depressive symptoms and alcohol use prior to antiretroviral therapy on viral suppression among people living with HIV in Rural Uganda. (Foley et al., Aids Care)

New Publication: An integrated video conferencing intervention for chronic pain and heavy drinking among patients in HIV-care: a proof-of-concept study. (Palfai et al, Care)

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

URBAN ARCH Boston Cohort and Russia Cohort were both awarded supplements to study issues related to COVID-19! Information on these supplements can be found here.

New Publication: Food insecurity and substance use in people with HIV infection and substance use disorder. (Raja et al., Substance Abuse.)

New Publication: Stigma and quality of co-located care for HIV-positive people in addiction treatment in Ukraine: a cross-sectional study. (Sereda et al., JIAS)

New Publication: Effect of zinc supplementation vs placebo on mortality risk and HIV disease progression among HIV-positive adults with heavy alcohol use. (Freiberg et al., JAMA)

New Publication: Alcohol and bone turnover markers among people living with HIV infection and substance use disorder. (Kim et al., Alcohol: Clin and Exp Res.)

New Publication: The impact of alcohol use on tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Ragan et al., Int J Tuberc Lung Dis.)

New Publication: Tutorial in biostatistics: The use of generalized additive models to evaluate alcohol consumption as an exposure variable. (White et al., Drug Alcohol Depend.)

New Publication: Liver Fibrosis and Accelerated Immune Dysfunction (Immunosenescence) Among HIV-infected Russians With Heavy Alcohol Consumption – An Observational Cross-Sectional Study. (So-Armah et al., BMC Gastroenterol)

New Supplements: The URBAN ARCH Boston Cohort and Russia Cohort were awarded supplements to study issues related to COVID-19! Information on these supplements can be found here.

New Publication: Hazardous alcohol use, antiretroviral therapy receipt and viral suppression in people living with HIV who inject drugs in the U.S., India, Russia and Vietnam. (Wagman et al, AIDS)

New Publication: HIV and substance use stigma, intersectional stigma and healthcare among HIV positive PWID in Russia. (Vetrova et al, AIDS Behav)

New Publication: Design of a randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation medications for alcohol reduction among HIV-positive heavy drinkers and daily smokers in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Tindle et al, Contemp Clin Trials Commun.)

New Publication: An integrated videoconferencing intervention for chronic pain and heavy drinking among patients in HIV-care: a proof-of-concept study. (Palfai et al, AIDS Care)

New Publication: Food insecurity and substance use in people with HIV infection and substance use disorder. (Raja et al., Substance Abuse.)

New Publication: Stigma and quality of co-located care for HIV-positive people in addiction treatment in Ukraine: a cross-sectional study. (Sereda et al., JIAS)

New Publication: Effect of zinc supplementation vs placebo on mortality risk and HIV disease progression among HIV-positive adults with heavy alcohol use. (Freiberg et al., JAMA)

New Publication: Alcohol and bone turnover markers among people living with HIV infection and substance use disorder. (Kim et al., Alcohol: Clin and Exp Res.)

New Publication: The impact of alcohol use on tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (Ragan et al., Int J Tuberc Lung Dis.)

New Publication: Tutorial in biostatistics: The use of generalized additive models to evaluate alcohol consumption as an exposure variable. (White et al., Drug Alcohol Depend.)

2019

New Publication: Development of a tailored, telehealth intervention to address chronic pain and heavy drinking among people with HIV infection: integrating perspectives of patients in HIV care. (Palfai et al., Addict Clin Sci Pract)

New Publication: Association between alcohol use and inflammatory biomarkers over time among younger adults with HIV – The Russia ARCH observational study. (So-Armah et al., PLoS One)

New Publication: Zinc deficiency and advanced liver fibrosis among HIV and hepatitis C co-infected anti-retroviral naïve persons with alcohol use in Russia. (Barocas et al., PLOS One)

New Publication: A strengths-based case management intervention to link HIV-positive people who inject drugs in Russia to HIV care. (Samet et al., AIDS)

The URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting took place April 9-10, 2019, at the Boston University Medical Campus. More information from the meeting can be found here.

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the 2019 HIV & Aging Conference: Falls in people living with HIV infection and alcohol and other drug use (Kim).

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science: “Police abuse, ART adherence, and harm reduction among PWID living with HIV in Ukraine.” (Schoenberger et al.).

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at the NIDA International Forum 2019: “Stigma and violence among HIV-positive people who use drugs in Ukraine.” (Idrisov et al.).

Symposium accepted at Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2019: “HIV, alcohol and comorbidity: From the microbiome and immunity to clinical outcomes.” Dr. Richard Saitz is organizing the symposium.

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the 2019 HIV & Aging Conference: Falls in people living with HIV infection and alcohol and other drug use (Kim).

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at the NIDA International Forum 2019: “Stigma and violence among HIV-positive people who use drugs in Ukraine.” (Idrisov et al.).

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2019: Factors associated with elevated transaminases in people living with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy in Uganda who drink and do not drink alcohol (Hahn).

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2019: Metagenomic analyses of the gut-microbial dysbiosis among HIV infected heavy drinkers (Barve).

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2019: Falls in people living with HIV infection and alcohol and other drug use (Saitz).

Congratulations to Karen Jacobson for receiving a BU CTSI Pilot Award for the project: “A mixed methods study comparing longitudinal, repeated phosphatidylethanol (PEth) to self-reported alcohol consumption to assess changes in alcohol use and readiness for intervention during tuberculosis treatment”.

Abstract accepted for a poster and oral presentation at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) 2019: Polysubstance use patterns and HIV disease severity among those with substance use disorder: Latent class analysis (Bertholet et al.)

Abstract accepted for a poster and oral presentation at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) 2019: Substance use and quality of life in an urban cohort of people living with HIV and substance dependence (Rawlins-Pilgrim et al.)

Abstract accepted for an oral presentation at the International Workshop on HIV and Hepatitis Observational Databases 2019: Per-protocol analysis of the ZINC trial using causal interference methods. (Lodi et al.).

New Grant Notice: Notice of Special Interest on “Development and Dissemination of Behavioral Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder”

New Grant Notice: Notice of Special Interest on Methodological Advances to Improve Alcohol Measurement and its Consequences for People Living with HIV who have Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications

New Publication: Serodiscordant partnerships and opportunities for pre-exposure prophylaxis among partners of women and men living with HIV in St. Petersburg, Russia (Gnatienko et al.)

2018

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze on receiving funding for an R00 which will investigate the role of double stigma related to HIV & substance use among HIV-infected people with addictions and its relations to health and health care.

New Grant: Congratulations to Drs. Christine Cheng and Andrew Henderson on receiving funding for an R61 to characterize the effects of opioid use disorder on host immune function, HIV replication, and HIV latency.

Check out the latest issue of the quarterly URBAN ARCH Newsletter!

Job Posting: Boston ARCH is hiring a Project Coordinator to join their team!

Congratulations to Marina Vetrova for being selected as a 2018 NIDA INVEST Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

URBAN ARCH Investigators will be presenting at Research Society on Alcoholism 2018 which is held from June 16-20 in San Diego, CA. Click here for a list of URBAN ARCH related presentations.

Thank you to all who attended the 2018 URBAN ARCH Annual Meeting. Click here for photos and presentations from the meeting. Next year’s meeting will be held April 9-10, 2019.

New Publication: Alcohol consumption and bone mineral density in people with HIV and substance use disorder: a prospective cohort study (Saitz et al.)

New Publication: Design of a randomized controlled trial of zinc supplementation to improve markers of mortality and HIV disease progression in HIV-positive drinkers in St. Petersburg, Russia (Gnatienko et al.)

New Publication: Female gender and HIV transmission risk behaviors among people living with HIV who have used injection drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia (Wagman et al.)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Sabrina Assoumou on receiving funding for a K23 grant which will use the ADAPT-ITT framework to modify strengths-based case management (SBCM) to address the needs of PWID aged 18 to 30 tested for HCV and HIV at a detoxification center.

New Publication: Alcohol Use and Unprotected Sex Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Adults: Findings from an Event-Level Study (Woolf-King et al.)

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) 2018: Recent cannabis use and advanced liver fibrosis among HIV-infected heavy drinkers (Fuster et al.)

New Publication: Depression and smoking characteristics among HIV-positive smokers in Russia: A cross-sectional study (Lasser et al.)

New Publication: Isoniazid preventive therapy for people with HIV who are heavy alcohol drinkers in high TB-/HIV-burden countries: A risk–benefit analysis (Freiman et al.)

Roundtable accepted at Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2018: “Alcohol and Health: Essential Knowledge For Health Professions.” Margaret Murray is organizing the roundtable, and Jeffrey Samet will be a speaker.

New Funding Opportunity: Center for Implementation and Improvement Sciences (CIIS) Pilot Grant Program (Boston University)

Roundtable accepted at Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2018: “Publishing Alcohol Clinical Science.” Richard Saitz is organizing the roundtable, and Jeffrey Samet will be a speaker.

New Publication: False positive HIV diagnoses: Lessons from Ugandan and Russian research cohorts (Coleman et al.)

New Publication: Alcohol use and HIV disease progression in an antiretroviral naïve cohort (Hahn et al.)

2017

New Publication: Contraceptive use among HIV-infected females with history of injection drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia (West et al.)

New Publication: Fatal and non-fatal overdose after narcology hospital discharge among Russians living with HIV/AIDS who inject drugs (Walley et al.)

New Publication: Alcohol types and HIV disease progression among HIV-infection drinkers not yet on antiretroviral therapy in Russia and Uganda (Asiimwe et al.)

Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze and his wife, Dr. Fatima Lunze, for receiving the Victor Sidel and Barry Levy Award for Peace from the American Public Health Association (APHA) for establishing the NGO Health for the Caucasus, which works to strengthen health care for those directly and indirectly affected by violence in the Russian North Caucasus.

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Samet for receiving the American College of Physicians (ACP) Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award for his innovative work in the field of addiction medicine.

Free full text: Lifetime marijuana and alcohol use, and cognitive dysfunction in people with human immunodeficiency virus infection (Lorkiewicz) named as one of the top 10 high scoring articles in Taylor & Francis Altmetric report in December.

New Publication: Role of substance use in HIV care cascade outcomes among people who inject drugs in Russia (Idrisov)

Abstract accepted for a poster presentation at the 2018 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI): Zinc to reduce mortality and CVD risk and HIV disease progression in Russian drinkers (Freiberg et al.)

Symposium accepted at College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) 2018: “Polysubstance use is the norm: Time for research and practice to recognize and address it.” Dr. Richard Saitz is organizing the symposium.

New Publication: Lifetime marijuana and alcohol use, and cognitive dysfunction in people with human immunodeficiency virus infection (Lorkiewicz)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Tibor Palfai on receiving funding for a UH2 to develop and evaluate a video telehealth approach to address alcohol use and pain for patients in an HIV-care setting.

New Grant: Congratulations to Drs. Jeffrey Samet and Judy Tsui on receiving funding for UH2 for a pilot to test novel pharmacotherapies (opioid receptor antagonists) to improve chronic pain among HIV-infected heavy drinkers.

New RFA: The CFAR Developmental Grants Program is now accepting applications for Fall 2017. Applications are due by November 1st.

New Grant: Congratulations to Drs. Matthew Freiberg and Jeffrey Samet on receiving funding for an R01 examining the relationship between TMAO production and cardiovascular disease, using participants of the St PETER HIV trial.

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Judy Hahn for receiving funding for a U01 to examine an intervention to reduce alcohol use and increase adherence to TB preventative therapy among HIV/TB co-infected drinkers.

New Publication: Use of an android phone application for automated text messages in international settings: a case study in an HIV clinical trial in St. Petersburg, Russia (Forman)

New Publication: Food insecurity, HIV disease progression and access to care among HIV-infected Russians not on ART (Idrisov)

New Publication: HIV-related stigma and substance use in a Russian cohort of HIV-positive risky drinkers (Edelman)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Freiberg on receiving funding for a U01 grant which will use participants in the St PETER HIV trial to examine effects of alcohol consumption on bacteria present in the gut.

New Publication: Polypharmacy and risk of non-fatal overdose for patients with HIV infection and substance dependence (Kim)

New Grant: Congratulations to Kaku So-Armah on receiving funding for a CFAR developmental project, which will leverage St PETER resources and support whole genome sequencing of fecal microbiomes and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) to measure intestinal permeability.

New Publication: HIV stigma and unhealthy alcohol use among people living with HIV in Russia (Lunze)

New Publication: FIB-4 stage of liver fibrosis predicts incident heart failure among HIV infected and uninfected patients (So-Armah)

New Publication: The relationship between spirituality/religiousness and unhealthy alcohol use among HIV-infected adults in southwestern Uganda (Adong)

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at American Public Health Association (APHA) 2017: False HIV positive diagnoses: Lessons from Uganda and Russia research cohorts (Coleman et al.)

New Grant: Congratulations to Angela Bazzi on receiving a K01 grant to develop a community-based PrEP intervention for people who inject drugs.

New Publication: Impact of illicit opioid use on T cell subsets among HIV-infected adults (Edelman)

New Publication: HIV-infected individuals who use alcohol and drugs and virologic suppression (Nolan)

New Publication: Lifetime and recent alcohol use and bone mineral density in adults with HIV infection and substance dependence (Ventura)

Call for Papers: PLOS Medicine seeks manuscripts that cover advances in the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV infection

New Publication: Randomized study of assessment effects on alcohol use by persons with HIV in rural Uganda (Emenyonu)

New Publication: Identification of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use disorder: A case report (Godersky). Click here for a narrated author presentation.

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2017: Heavy drinking among HIV-infected women and men in the United States, Russia, and Uganda (Gnatienko et al.)

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at the 2017 NIDA International Forum and College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD): Opioid craving and HIV care cascade outcomes (Idrisov et al.). Bulat Idrisov also received a travel award to present at NIDA International Forum .

Symposium accepted at Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) 2017: “Use of biomarkers to advance alcohol and HIV research.” Jeffrey Samet and Kendall Bryant are organizing the symposium, and Kaku So-Armah and Theresa Kim will present on Russia ARCH and Boston ARCH data respectively.

New RFA: The CFAR Developmental Grants Program is now accepting applications for Spring 2017. Applications are due by April 3.

New publication: Phosphatidylethanol confirmed alcohol use among ART-naïve HIV-infected persons who denied consumption in rural Uganda (Muyindike)

2016

New publication: The formation, elimination, interpretation, and future research needs of Phosphatidylethanol for research studies and clinical practice (Hahn)

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infectious (CROI) 2017: Does the benefit of IPT for persons with HIV who consume alcohol outweigh the risk? (Freiman et al.)

Congratulations to Evgeny Krupitsky, Dmitry Lioznov, Jeffrey Samet, and Edwin Zvartau on receiving the Prix Galien Russia Committee Special Jury Award on World AIDS Day for their research on the prevalence of HIV in vulnerable and special populations in the Russian Federation.

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infectious (CROI) 2017: Longitudinal association between alcohol use and inflammatory biomarkers (So-Armah et al.)

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) 2017: Are depression and anxiety symptoms associated with heavy smoking or higher nicotine dependence among HIV-infected smokers in Russia? (Lasser et al.)

New publication: Mortality in HIV-infected substance users in Russia (Fairbairn)

Congratulations to Dr. Jeffrey Samet for being named the first John Noble Professor of General Internal Medicine at Boston University

Abstract presentation at the CFAR Joint Symposium on HIV Research in Women: “Sexual violence from police and HIV risks among HIV-infected women who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia” (Lunze et al.). Dr. Karsten Lunze also received a travel award to present at this conference.

New Publication: Pain and risk behaviors among HIV-infected persons in St. Petersburg, Russia (Tsui)

Call for Papers: Addiction Science Clinical Practice (ASCP) seeks manuscripts that address the impact of drug and/or alcohol use on the HIV care cascade

New Publication: Insights on the Russian HCV care cascade: minimal HCV treatment for HIV/HCV co-infected PWID in St. Petersburg (Tsui)

New Publication: Alcohol use and food insecurity among people living with HIV in Mbarara, Uganda and St. Petersburg, Russia (Patts)

New Publication: Alcohol use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: Current knowledge, implications, and future directions (Williams)

New Grant: Congratulations to Drs. Jennifer Wagman and Judith Tsui on receiving an NIAAA Gender Diversity Supplement to conduct sex/gender comparative analyses using existing data from our Russia ARCH/ZINC cohort

Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze on receiving an Early Career Investigator Award to support his attendance at AHSR 2016

Dr. Jeffrey Samet will deliver a plenary “Co-occurring substance use and infectious disease” at AHSR 2016

New Grant: Congratulations to Kaku So-Armah on receiving a K01 grant examining novel mechanisms that drive excess atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk within the context of HIV and the role of liver injury

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at the HIV and Liver Disease 2016 Conference: Relationship of liver fibrosis score and LDL-cholesterol levels in HIV mono-infected and HIV/Hepatitis C co-infected patients (So-Armah et al.). Kaku So-Armah also received a travel award to present at this conference.

Job Postings: Boston ARCH is hiring a Project Manager and Research Assistants to join their team!

New Publication: Sexual violence from police and HIV risk behaviours among HIV-positive women who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia: a mixed methods study (Lunze)

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at IAS 2016: Sexual violence from police against HIV-infected women who inject drugs in St Petersburg, Russia: a mixed methods analysis of public health and human rights implications (Lunze et al.)

New Publication: Effects of heavy drinking on T-cell phenotypes consistent with immunosenescence in untreated HIV infection (So-Armah)

New Publication: Vaginal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a useful biomarker of semen exposure among HIV-infected Ugandan women (Woolf-King)

URBAN ARCH welcomes Julia Purks, recipient of a 2016 CFAR Summer Student Internship, working under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Samet

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze on receiving a K99 R00 grant addressing stigma and health care among HIV-infected Russians who inject drugs

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze on receiving a CFAR Collaborative grant entitled “Double Stigma as Barrier to Integrated HIV Treatment among HIV Infected PWID in Ukraine.”

New Publication: Alcohol interactive toxicity beliefs and ART non-adherence among HIV-infected current drinkers in Mbarara, Uganda (Fatch)

New Publication: The impact of prescribed opioids on CD4 cell count recovery among HIV-infected patients newly initiating antiretroviral therapy (Edelman)

New Publication: Alcohol Consumption in Ugandan HIV-Infected Household-Brewers Versus Non-Brewers (Thakarar)

New Publication: Do Biomarkers Of Inflammation, Monocyte Activation And Altered Coagulation Explain Excess Mortality Between HIV Infected and Uninfected People? (So-Armah)

Congratulations to Dr. Karsten Lunze on receiving the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award from the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM)

URBAN ARCH at CPDD 2016

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at SGIM 2016: Polypharmacy and risk of falls and fractures for patients with HIV infection and substance dependence (Kim et al.)

New Grant: Congratulations to Drs. Sabrina Assoumou and Angela Robertson Bazzi for each receiving a Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Developmental Grant

Congratulations to Natalia Gnatienko and Carly Bridden for receiving a BU CTSI Award to attend the CROI 2016 Conference.

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Fuster on receiving a grant from the Ministry of Health in Spain to examine the effect of alcohol intake on intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress

2015

SAVE THE DATE – URBAN ARCH ANNUAL MEETING: April 5-6, 2016; Boston University Medical Campus.

Dr. Jeffrey Samet receives $10,000 to support NIDA International Forum Travel Awards

Congratulations to Dr. Karen Jacobson on receiving the 2015-2016 Boston University Robert Dawson Evans Junior Faculty Merit Award, selected from over 450 faculty, which will provide two years of support for Dr. Jacobson’s research-related activities.

In the News: Dr. Angela Robertson Bazzi receives a Boston University Peter Paul Career Development Professorship Award

New Publication: Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with monocyte activation prior to starting antiretroviral therapy (Carrico)

“Strengthening the Cascade – Current Work and New Ideas on the Cascade of Care for HIV, TB, and HCV,” organized by Jeffrey Samet and Sydney Rosen on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 from 10:00am – 3:00pm on the Boston University Medical Campus.

New Publication: Pain and Mortality Risk in a Cohort of HIV-Infected Persons with Alcohol Use Disorders (Tsui)

New Publication: Declining and Rebounding Unhealthy Alcohol Consumption During the First Year of HIV Care in Rural Uganda, Using Phosphatidylethanol to Augment Self-Report (Hahn)

New Publication: Stigma and Human Rights Abuses Against People Who Inject Drugs in Russia – A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Policy and Public Health Strategies (Lunze)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Wagman on receiving a NIAAA K01 Award to work with Drs. Jeffrey Samet and Judy Hahn from URBAN ARCH.

Abstract accepted for poster and oral presentation at Society for Leukocyte Biology Annual Meeting 2015: Is liver injury a mechanism of accelerated immune dysfunction (immunosenescence) among ART-naive HIV-infected Russians with a recent history of heavy drinking? (So-Armah et al.)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Bulat Idrisov from Russia on receiving a NIDA INVEST Fellowship to work under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Samet in Boston

New Publication: Development and Validation of the East Africa Alcohol Expectancy Scale (AFEXS)

New Publication: Comparison of Traditional and Novel Self-Report Measures to an Alcohol Biomarker for Quantifying Alcohol Consumption Among HIV-Infected Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa

“BU Researchers Working to Solve Health Problems Around the Globe,” featuring Jeffrey Samet: Multi-country (Russia, Uganda, US) research on HIV infection and alcohol use and abuse on Monday, May 18, 2015 3:00-5:00PM; Boston University Medical Campus, Hiebert Lounge.

New Publication: Qualitative Study of Changes in Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults Entering Care and Treatment for HIV/AIDS in Rural Southwest Uganda

New Publication: Heroin Use and HIV Disease Progression: Results from a Pilot Study of a Russian Cohort

URBAN ARCH Presents: “Immunity and Inflammation in HIV and Alcohol’s Potential Role” by Peter Hunt on April 28, 2015 12:00-1:00PM, Boston University Medical Campus, Crosstown Building, Room 2128 (GIM Seminar Room).

URBAN ARCH at CPDD 2015

URBAN ARCH at RSA 2015

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Richard Saitz and Theresa Kim on receiving an NIAAA Administrative Supplement to examine the effects of alcohol and opioid consumption on bone turnover markers (BTMs) in our Boston ARCH study.

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Society for Clinical Trials Annual Meeting 2015: Use of an Android phone app for automated text messaging in international settings (Forman et al.)

Presentation at American Society of Addiction Medicine Conference 2015: Chronic Pain Management In HIV/HCV Co-infected: Complexities and Opportunities (Samet), as part of the “Clinical Management of Substance Abusers with Co-Occurring HIV and HCV Infections” session on April 25, 2015 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

2014

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at American Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting 2015: Pain and mortality among HIV-infected persons with alcohol problems (Tsui et al.)

In the News: For Heroin Users, Less May Reduce Immune Cells (Jen Edelman)

New Publication: HERMITAGE-a randomized controlled trial to reduce sexually transmitted infections and HIV risk behaviors among HIV-infected Russian drinkers

In the News: Occasional heroin use may worsen HIV infection (Edelman et al.)

In the News: Calling it straight on alcohol (Rich Saitz & Jeffrey Samet)

SAVE THE DATE – URBAN ARCH ANNUAL MEETING: April 28-28, 2015; BU Medical Campus

Abstract accepted for poster presentation at Einstein-Montefiore CFAR HIV symposium 2014: Prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms amongst HIV+ pre-ART patients in Mbarara (Adong et al.)

Abstract accepted for oral presentation at MUST 2014: Under reporting of alcohol consumption among persons with HIV not yet on ART in Mbarara, Uganda (Muyindike et al.)

Abstract accepted for oral presentation at MUST 2014: Prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among HIV+ pre-ART patients in Mbarara (Adong et al.)

New Publication: Qualitative Study of Changes in Alcohol Use Among HIV-Infected Adults Entering Care and Treatment for HIV/AIDS in Rural Southwest Uganda

Abstract accepted for oral presentation at APHA 2014: Design of an RCT evaluating zinc supplementation to prevent progression of HIV disease among heavy drinkers in the Russia ARCH cohort (Freiberg et al).

In the News: Intervention may not reduce risky behaviors among those with HIV

In the News: Why Are HIV Rates So High in Russia? (Jeffrey Samet)

New Grant: Congratulations to Dr. Kaku So-Armah on receiving an NIAAA Diversity Supplement to examine the role of liver disease, alcohol, and immune dysfunction in our Russia ZINC study.

New Publication: Pain is associated with risky drinking over time among HIV-infected persons in St. Petersburg, Russia

New Publication: HERMITAGE- a randomized controlled trial to reduce sexually transmitted infections and HIV risk behaviors among HIV-infected Russian drinkers

New publication: Decreases in self-reported alcohol consumption following HIV counseling and testing at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

New publication: Punitive policing and associated substance use risks among HIV-positive people in Russia who inject drugs.

New publication: Factors Associated With Study Attrition Among HIV-Infected Risky Drinkers in St. Petersburg, Russia.

NIAAA Recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month 2014 in April

New Publication:Inflammatory cytokines and mortality in a cohort of HIV-infected adults with alcohol problems.

New publication: Associations of Sex Trafficking History with Recent Sexual Risk among HIV-Infected FSWs in India.

New Publication:The influence of depressive symptoms on alcohol use among HIV-infected Russian drinkers.
Read more on the BUMC website.

New Publication:Self-reported alcohol abstinence associated with ART initiation among HIV-infected persons in rural Uganda.

New Publication: Risk factors for recent nonfatal overdose among HIV-infected Russians who inject drugs.

2013