The Men of MACS
Last April marked the twenty-fourth year of the Multi-AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a prospective study of gay and bisexual men that has been going on almost as long as the epidemic itself. From 1984 through 1985, 4954 men were enrolled in the study. MACS has added participants over the years for a total of 6,973 men. This includes HIV positive men and a comparison group of HIV negative men.
The MACS study takes place in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, and Baltimore.
About 180 active participants are right here in DC at the Whitman-Walker Clinic site, a sub-site of Baltimore.
Joe Izzo, a staff-member of Whitman-Walker, is one of the participants. Joe participates in the study as a way to help others: “being HIV negative for all of these years I feel grateful and I felt I needed to give back to the community in some way.”
There are other benefits, however, “It’s also a wonderful way to get a complete physical every six months; it’s a great way to monitor your health whether you’re positive or negative.”
These men come in faithfully every six months for a follow up visit where they have a medical examination and provide information about their medical history. Dr. Michael Plankey commented on the remarkable dedication of these participants: “We have about 50 MACS volunteers in DC that have never missed a single appointment in 24 years.”
The data collected from these men has contributed to many areas of HIV research. MACS researchers have written over 1,000 scientific manuscripts on topics including virology, sexual behavior, substance use, hpv, hepatitis, and quality of life to name a few.
The MACS study is funded through the National Institutes of Health. MACS Researchers expect to re-apply for funding to continue the study in the next year.
Dr. Plankey points to three areas where MACS data could be particularly useful in the future if the study is continued: HIV and Aging, HIV and Cardiovascular Disease, and HIV and Neural and Cognitive Function.
A community advisory board, made up of trial participants from both Baltimore and Washington, meets about once a month and provides input on the MACS research agenda.
To find out more about the MACS Study in DC contact Max Menna.
To find out more about the MACS Study in General, visit: www.statepi.jhsph.edu/macs
The MACS study takes place in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, and Baltimore.
About 180 active participants are right here in DC at the Whitman-Walker Clinic site, a sub-site of Baltimore.
Joe Izzo, a staff-member of Whitman-Walker, is one of the participants. Joe participates in the study as a way to help others: “being HIV negative for all of these years I feel grateful and I felt I needed to give back to the community in some way.”
There are other benefits, however, “It’s also a wonderful way to get a complete physical every six months; it’s a great way to monitor your health whether you’re positive or negative.”
These men come in faithfully every six months for a follow up visit where they have a medical examination and provide information about their medical history. Dr. Michael Plankey commented on the remarkable dedication of these participants: “We have about 50 MACS volunteers in DC that have never missed a single appointment in 24 years.”
The data collected from these men has contributed to many areas of HIV research. MACS researchers have written over 1,000 scientific manuscripts on topics including virology, sexual behavior, substance use, hpv, hepatitis, and quality of life to name a few.
The MACS study is funded through the National Institutes of Health. MACS Researchers expect to re-apply for funding to continue the study in the next year.
Dr. Plankey points to three areas where MACS data could be particularly useful in the future if the study is continued: HIV and Aging, HIV and Cardiovascular Disease, and HIV and Neural and Cognitive Function.
A community advisory board, made up of trial participants from both Baltimore and Washington, meets about once a month and provides input on the MACS research agenda.
To find out more about the MACS Study in DC contact Max Menna.
To find out more about the MACS Study in General, visit: www.statepi.jhsph.edu/macs
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