HOMER

The HAART Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) study is a retrospective cohort of HIV-positive individuals receiving HAART in British Columbia. Started on August 1, 1996, the cohort follows HIV-infected individuals in the Drug Treatment Program who initiated HAART with three or more antiretroviral agents. This cohort has formed the basis of studies published in AIDS, JAIDS, JAMA, and The Lancet, among others.

 

Since 1996, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available free of charge to individuals living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada through the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Drug Treatment Program (DTP). The Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Observational Medical Evaluation and Research (HOMER) cohort was established in 1996 to maintain a prospective record of clinical measurements and medication profiles of a subset of DTP participants initiating HAART in BC. Currently over 5000 individuals are enrolled in the HOMER cohort. This unique cohort provides a comprehensive data source to investigate mortality, prognostic factors and treatment responses among people living with HIV in BC from the inception of HAART.

The aims of the HOMER cohort are to:

  1. Evaluate clinical and virologic outcomes, resistance patterns and prognostic factors associated with HAART among people living with HIV in BC.
  2. Conduct surveillance of the population-level health effects of HAART.
  3. Inform treatment priorities and therapeutic guidelines for HIV/AIDS management.
  4. Collaborate with other HIV observational cohorts to pursue complex HIV-related research that requires large sample sizes.
  5.  

HOMER collaborates with other HIV cohorts on both a national and international scale to answer more complex HIV-specific research questions. A subset of data from the HOMER cohort has been merged with cohort databases from across Canada to form the Canadian Observational Cohort (CANOC), facilitating collaborative pan-provincial research. Current international collaborations include the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC) (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/art-cc/) and the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) (http://statepiaps.jhsph.edu/naaccord/).

The HOMER cohort welcomes input from external investigators regarding potential research proposals or future collaborations. For further information please contact the principal investigator, Dr Robert Hogg (bobhogg@bccfe.ca)

Scroll to Top

During the Canada Post strike, the following measures have been undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office.  (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During this time, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service.

Start typing and press enter to search