Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Are you a premenopausal female 18 - 50 years of age?

We are studying how HIV affects the immune system in both the blood and female reproductive tract (vagina and cervix). We are also studying how vaginal microbiome may contribute to HIV risk.

Massachusetts General Hospital Women's Health Infectious Diseases
2 hours over 2 visits
Estimated Time Commitment
Female, Nonbinary, 18-50 years
May Be Eligible
Payment up to $300
May Be Offered
Blood draw, Biopsy, Office visit, Injection or IV
May Be Required
 
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Enrollment for this study is expected to close on Friday, October 24, 2025

Overview

What we are studying

We are working on this research to learn more about how the immune system attacks HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).The immune system has cells that help your body resist and fight this and other diseases. In this study we look at the cells of the immune system located in female reproductive tract and in the blood. We also look at bacteria and other organisms that live in and around the vagina and how these might affect the risk of getting HIV.


Why it is important


What we hope to accomplish

Principal Investigator

Doug Kwon, MD, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Profile

Project Contact

Click I Am Interested "I Am Interested" "I Am Interested" to get started. If you have questions, contact:

Sara Ptaszynska

sptaszynska@mgh.harvard.edu
(857) 268-7064

Judith Brister

jbrister@mgh.harvard.edu
(857) 268-7065

Who can participate

We are asking you to take part in this study because you are a woman between the ages of 18 to 50 and have not yet started menopause. We are asking women who do or do not have HIV infection to take part in this study.


Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are eligible for this study

What you may be asked to do

We will collect samples from the female reproductive tract (vagina and cervix) and compare this information with immune responses in your blood. During a pelvic exam we will collect swab samples from your vagina and cervix. If you agree, we will also collect small tissue samples (biopsy) but this is optional. The pelvic exam and sample collection will be performed by a trained licensed physician or nurse practitioner.


Project activities may include:

  • Blood draw
  • Biopsy
  • Office visit
  • Injection or IV

Estimated Time Commitment

2 hours over 2 visits

What You May Get

Clinical Pap-Smear


STD Testing


$150 for non-biopsy option


$300 for biopsy option

Location

Ragon Institute
400 Technology Sq, Cambridge MA

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MGH Main Campus
55 Fruit St, Boston MA

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Travel

  • Parking available
  • Parking reimbursed
  • Accessible by public transportation

Travel and Parking Details

Additional Information

Project Website

http://www.ragoninstitute.org/


Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • Foundation
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