Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Cancer is a leading cause of disease and death in people with HIV. People with HIV also face a higher risk of cancer than the general population. Therefore, it is important to understand why people with HIV experience a greater burden of cancer and how we can improve cancer care and survival. In Canada, there is a lack of research on the cancer experience among people with HIV. This project aims to find ways to reduce cancer risk and better understand cancer treatment and survival in people with HIV. The project has three main goals. First, I will determine if cancer risk profiles differ by social and economic determinants of health, such as age, sex, income, education, and urban/rural residence. Second, I will characterize cancer survival and recurrence, looking at what risk factors predict these cancer outcomes. Third, I will investigate whether people with HIV receive the same quality of cancer treatment as people without HIV. To achieve these aims, I will use Alberta's extensive health databases to create a cohort of people with HIV and link this to the Alberta Cancer Registry. This will allow me to analyze detailed data on cancer diagnoses, treatments, and survival. Throughout the study process, I will prioritize community involvement by forming a Community Advisory Board of people with lived experience to ensure the research is guided and informed by their perspectives. Ultimately, the findings from this research will provide evidence to inform better prevention, treatment and care strategies so that we can lower the cancer burden, improve cancer care and minimize health inequities for people with HIV, both in Canada and globally.