What is HLB-SIMPLe?

HLB-SIMPLe (Heart, Lung, and Blood Co-morbiditieS Implementation Models in People Living with HIV) is a collection of research studies funded by the US National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Fogarty International Center and supported by a research coordinating center (RCC). Researchers from African and American universities are working together with governments, community partners, and health facilities to test strategies for delivering effective heart disease prevention and treatment initiatives to people living with HIV (PLHIV). Although the settings and strategies being tested vary across the different study sites, members of the HLB-SIMPLe alliance are collaborating to troubleshoot challenges and to share what we are learning.

Explore more of this site to learn more about our team and the research projects ongoing in Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.

The Context

Thanks to over four decades of political advocacy, scientific achievement, and financial investment, HIV/AIDS is no longer the death sentence it once was. About 38.4 million people globally are currently living with HIV, and those with access to effective treatment and care are mostly able to manage the virus to live long, full lives. As PLHIV age, however, they often find themselves contending with new, chronic medical conditions that they must also learn to manage, including hypertension and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

Now the scientific community has a new challenge to address – ensuring all PLHIV can access all the care they need to maintain their health and wellbeing – not just medications to suppress HIV. The HLB-SIMPLe Alliance is conducting research in six African countries to find solutions.