HIV Cure Research: Ethical and Real-World Practical Considerations for Pediatric and Adolescent Populations

Lay Summary Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) control off antiretroviral treatment (ART), ART-free remission, and cure remain elusive despite advancements in understanding their intricacies. Global data reveal that children and adolescents lag behind adults in ART access and in achieving viral suppression, underscoring unique reasons to prioritize pediatric HIV cure research. The Pediatric Adolescent Virus Elimination Collaboratory and Community Advisory Board generated considerations and questions around the ethics and practice of pediatric HIV cure research, following the Lo and Grady framework for ethical HIV cure research. We highlight the justification for focusing on pediatric populations, addressing multifaceted life course factors, and review unique considerations in pediatric and adolescent HIV cure research.