Dear all,
We proudly announce the inclusion of the 20’000th patient in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.
In the last three decades, the SHCS participants attended together almost 300’000 visits, some patients had over 70 study visits. Patients enrolled in the SHCS represent at least
- 50% of the overall epidemic in Switzerland,
- 75% of AIDS cases, and
- 72% of all individuals treated with antiretrovirals in Switzerland.
The biobank contains more than 1.3 Mio samples of plasma and PBMCs.
The achievement of such incredible numbers is only possible thanks to the tireless commitment of the participants, physicians, study nurses, researchers, data managers, administrative staff and funders.
We look forward to continuing our work, as the SHCS is a fantastic tool to further address urgent research questions in order to improve quality of care, study potential long-term toxicities of antiretroviral drugs, address basic science questions in HIV-biology also using big data approaches, work towards an HIV vaccine, target elimination of HCV in HIV-infected patients and improve prevention and quality of life of HIV-infected individuals in general.
At this occasion we also want to thank the Federal Office of Public Health for an additional financial support of CHF 300’000.- for the year 2018 to further improve preventive efforts.
Kind regards,
Alexandra Scherrer
(head of data center) and
Huldrych Günthard
(president SHCS)