Over 107,000 people live with HIV in the UK, and thanks to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), most can expect a normal lifespan. But the field is far from standing still. Long-acting injectable treatments given every 2–6 months, cure research targeting latent viral reservoirs, and next-generation prevention strategies are transforming what it means to live with — or prevent — HIV. Here is what is actively recruiting in the UK right now.
The UK is at the global forefront of HIV clinical research. The NIHR Clinical Research Network has designated HIV as a priority area, and the British HIV Association (BHIVA) actively promotes research participation. London alone has more HIV specialist centres than most countries.
Currently, there are over 100 actively recruiting HIV trials in the UK, spanning treatment simplification, cure research, prevention, and comorbidity management. The focus has shifted from simply suppressing the virus to eliminating it, preventing transmission entirely, and enabling people to live pill-free.
Types of HIV Trials
Long-Acting ART
Injectable and implantable antiretrovirals given every 2–6 months, eliminating daily pills. Cabotegravir/rilpivirine and next-generation agents.
Cure and Remission
"Kick and kill" strategies, gene editing (CRISPR), therapeutic vaccines, and immune modulation targeting latent HIV reservoirs.
Prevention (PrEP/PEP)
Long-acting PrEP (injectable cabotegravir, lenacapavir), on-demand regimens, and novel delivery systems for HIV prevention.
Comorbidity Management
Cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive impairment, bone disease, and cancer screening in an ageing HIV-positive population.
Long-Acting Injectable ART
The biggest shift in HIV treatment is the move from daily pills to long-acting injectables. Cabotegravir/rilpivirine (Cabenuva/Vocabria) is already approved as monthly or every-2-month injections. UK trials are pushing further:
Ultra-long-acting ART — lenacapavir (6-monthly subcutaneous injection) combined with other agents for a twice-yearly treatment regimen
Long-acting oral regimens — weekly or monthly oral pills using novel drug formulations
Simplification for virologically suppressed patients — switching from complex multi-drug regimens to long-acting monotherapy or dual therapy
Real-world implementation — NHS-based studies on the practicalities of delivering injectable ART in clinical settings
HIV Cure and Remission Research
A functional cure — sustained viral remission without ART — remains the ultimate goal. UK trials are pursuing several strategies:
"Kick and kill" — using latency-reversing agents to wake up dormant HIV-infected cells, then targeting them with therapeutic vaccines or immune-based therapies
CRISPR gene editing — using CRISPR-Cas9 to excise integrated HIV DNA from infected cells, or to modify CCR5 receptors to make cells resistant to HIV
Therapeutic vaccines — training the immune system to control HIV without ART, using mRNA, viral vector, and dendritic cell-based vaccine platforms
Immune checkpoint modulation — PD-1, CTLA-4, and other checkpoint inhibitors to reinvigorate HIV-specific T cell responses
Stem cell transplantation — building on the "London Patient" (treated at Guy's Hospital), exploring less toxic conditioning regimens for CCR5-Δ32 stem cell transplants
The UK's CHERUB collaboration (Collaborative HIV Eradication of Reservoirs: UK BRC) coordinates cure research across multiple centres.
Broadly Neutralising Antibodies
Broadly neutralising antibodies (bnAbs) are a bridge between treatment and cure — long-acting agents that both suppress the virus and engage the immune system:
Combination bnAbs — using two or more bnAbs targeting different parts of the HIV envelope to prevent viral escape
Engineered bnAbs — modifying antibodies for extended half-life (every 6–12 months dosing) and enhanced potency
bnAbs for treatment interruption — testing whether bnAbs can maintain viral suppression when ART is stopped
bnAbs for prevention — long-acting injectable bnAbs as an alternative to daily PrEP
Prevention: PrEP and PEP Innovation
The UK was relatively late to NHS-funded PrEP but is now a leader in next-generation prevention trials:
Long-acting injectable PrEP — cabotegravir injections every 2 months as an alternative to daily oral PrEP (the HPTN 083 follow-up studies)
Lenacapavir for PrEP — twice-yearly subcutaneous injections, potentially the most convenient PrEP option ever developed
On-demand PrEP — event-driven dosing strategies (2-1-1 regimen) for people with less frequent exposure
Novel PrEP formulations — vaginal rings, rectal gels, and long-acting implants for diverse prevention needs
Implementation science — trials on how to deliver PrEP at scale through sexual health clinics, GP surgeries, and community settings
Comorbidity and Ageing with HIV
As people with HIV live longer, managing comorbidities has become a major focus:
Cardiovascular disease — intensified cardiovascular risk management and anti-inflammatory therapies for people with HIV
Neurocognitive impairment — trials addressing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) and strategies to protect brain health
Cancer screening and treatment — optimised cancer surveillance protocols and cancer treatment trials in HIV-positive populations
Metabolic complications — managing weight gain on integrase inhibitors, insulin resistance, and lipid abnormalities
Bone disease — osteoporosis screening and treatment for people with HIV, who have elevated fracture risk
Who Can Participate?
Eligibility varies by trial type:
Treatment trials — confirmed HIV diagnosis, on stable ART with undetectable viral load (for switch studies), or detectable viral load (for salvage therapy studies)
Cure trials — typically require undetectable viral load on ART, willingness to undergo analytical treatment interruption (ATI), and extensive monitoring
PrEP trials — HIV-negative individuals at elevated risk of acquisition, typically assessed through sexual health clinic referral
CD4 count and viral load history — required for most trials, with specific thresholds depending on the study
Age requirements — most adult trials accept 18+, with some paediatric trials for children and adolescents
💡 Tip: Know Your Viral Load and CD4 History
Trial teams will want to know your current and historical viral load, CD4 count, treatment history (which ART you have taken and for how long), and any resistance test results. Your HIV clinic can provide a summary. For cure trials, understanding the concept of analytical treatment interruption (temporarily stopping ART under close monitoring) is essential before enrolling.
UK HIV Trial Locations
Major UK centres running HIV trials include:
London — Guy's and St Thomas' (home of the "London Patient"), Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Free Hospital, St Mary's, Barts Health
Birmingham — University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham Heartlands HIV service
Manchester — Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, North Manchester General Hospital
Bristol — University Hospitals Bristol, Terrence Higgins Trust South West
Brighton — Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, one of the UK's largest HIV cohorts
Edinburgh — Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building HIV research unit
Glasgow — Brownlee Centre, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Leeds — Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Yorkshire HIV research network
How to Find Your Match
Use our Smart Matcher to find HIV trials tailored to your treatment status, viral load, and health background. Whether you are looking for long-acting treatment options, interested in cure research, or seeking prevention strategies, we can match you to actively recruiting studies.
Browse our HIV condition page for all recruiting studies, or explore related conditions like hepatitis (common co-infection) or depression if you are managing mental health alongside HIV.
Find HIV Trials For You
Our Smart Matcher uses your HIV status, treatment history, and health background to find the most relevant clinical trials.