The principal aim of this proposal is to further development of new methods for analyzing observational data bases and randomized trials of HIV-infected persons and the application of these methods to data obtained in randomized and observational studies in an attempt to help answer important open substantive questions concerning the treatment and course of HlV-related disease. The proposed approaches are based either on (i) the estimation of new classes of causal models which include structural nested models, marginal structural models (MSMs), direct effect structural nested models, continuous time structural nested models, and optimail regime structural models (SNMs). Many of the new methods are fundamentally """"""""epidemiologic"""""""" in that they require data on time-dependent confounding factors, that is, risk factors for outcomes that also predict subsequent treatment with the drug or cofactor under study. In particular, we plan to further develop optimal regime SNMs and dynamic MSMs to help detemnine the optimal times to start HAART therapy and to change HAART regimens as a function of a subject's CD4 count, HIV RNA, clinical history, and, where available, results of genot^lc or phenotypic resistance testing. Our methods will be developed with the goal of directing analyzes and reanalyzes, with collaborators, of data from the HIV Causal Colioboration at HSPH . the Multicenler AIDS Cohort Study, The Women's Interagency HIV Study, The Swiss HIV Cohort Study, The Study of The Consequences of Protease Inhibitor Era (SCOPE), Pediatric Late Outcomes Protocol (PACTG 219) and the ALLRT study.

Public Health Relevance

Observational methods are used to answer pressing causal questions that cannot be or have not yet been studied in randomized trials. In particular we are developing methods that are the best available to determine the optimal CD4 and HIV RNA levels at which to initiate HAAART therapy in HIV infected subjects and the optimal time to change therapy once resistance to a initial HAART regime has developed.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
4R37AI032475-19
Application #
7751972
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Gezmu, Misrak
Project Start
1992-08-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$708,016
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Richardson, Thomas S; Robins, James M; Wang, Linbo (2018) Discussion of ""Data-driven confounder selection via Markov and Bayesian networks"" by Häggström. Biometrics 74:403-406
Robins, James; Li, Lingling; Tchetgen, Eric et al. (2016) Asymptotic Normality of Quadratic Estimators. Stoch Process Their Appl 126:3733-3759
Huitfeldt, Anders; Hernan, Miguel A; Kalager, Mette et al. (2016) Comparative Effectiveness Research Using Observational Data: Active Comparators to Emulate Target Trials with Inactive Comparators. EGEMS (Wash DC) 4:1234
Hernán, Miguel A; Robins, James M (2016) Using Big Data to Emulate a Target Trial When a Randomized Trial Is Not Available. Am J Epidemiol 183:758-64
Caniglia, Ellen C; Sabin, Caroline; Robins, James M et al. (2016) When to Monitor CD4 Cell Count and HIV RNA to Reduce Mortality and AIDS-Defining Illness in Virologically Suppressed HIV-Positive Persons on Antiretroviral Therapy in High-Income Countries: A Prospective Observational Study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 72:214-21
Danaei, Goodarz; Robins, James M; Young, Jessica G et al. (2016) Weight Loss and Coronary Heart Disease: Sensitivity Analysis for Unmeasured Confounding by Undiagnosed Disease. Epidemiology 27:302-10
Robins, James M; Weissman, Michael B (2016) Commentary: Counterfactual causation and streetlamps: what is to be done? Int J Epidemiol 45:1830-1835
Cain, Lauren E; Caniglia, Ellen C; Phillips, Andrew et al. (2016) Efavirenz versus boosted atazanavir-containing regimens and immunologic, virologic, and clinical outcomes: A prospective study of HIV-positive individuals. Medicine (Baltimore) 95:e5133
Swanson, Sonja A; Robins, James M; Miller, Matthew et al. (2015) Selecting on treatment: a pervasive form of bias in instrumental variable analyses. Am J Epidemiol 181:191-7
Ogburn, Elizabeth L; Rotnitzky, Andrea; Robins, James M (2015) Doubly robust estimation of the local average treatment effect curve. J R Stat Soc Series B Stat Methodol 77:373-396

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