HIV Research Centre

King’s College Hospital is the UK’s leading research centre for HIV-related kidney disease. Our work is focused on three areas:

1. Genetic factors that put people of African ancestry with HIV at risk of developing kidney failure

We have shown that carriage of variants of the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene, which is common in West African populations, increases the risk of kidney failure by 10-fold (and the risk of acute kidney injury by 7-9-fold), and that carriage of the N264K variant markedly reduces this risk⁽^1-3). We have also shown an increased risk of kidney failure in individuals with sickle cell trait⁽⁴⁾.

2. Effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the kidney and safety of ART in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD)

We have extensively studied the effects of tenofovir disoproxil (TDF) on kidney function⁽^{5, 6)} and the safety of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) in people with CKD including those who experienced kidney injury on TDF⁽^7-9). Current work focuses on the safety of Islatravir in people with CKD and the safety of TAF in people with severe CKD.

3. Kidney transplantation in people with HIV

Our work has shown that, despite ethnic disparities and socio-economic deprivation, excellent transplant outcomes can be achieved in people with HIV⁽¹⁰⁾.

In addition, King’s participates in clinical research studies of novel antiretroviral medications and studies addressing health concerns of people living with HIV.

Our research is grant funded by the Medical Research Council (UK), National Institutes of Health (USA), the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and Gilead Sciences.