Cohort Profile: Caribbean, Central and South America Network for HIV research (CCASAnet) collaboration within the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) programme

Abstract

This article describes the creation and development of the Caribbean, Central and South America Network for HIV Research (CCASAnet), established within the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) initiative. The collaboration integrates clinical and research data from HIV cohorts across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Honduras and Peru, with the objective of improving understanding of HIV epidemiology, antiretroviral therapy outcomes and long-term disease management in diverse populations. The paper outlines the organizational structure, scientific agenda and methodological strategies used to harmonize data collection and analysis across heterogeneous healthcare settings. Additionally, it highlights the network’s role in facilitating large-scale observational studies, strengthening international collaboration, supporting research on HIV treatment and coinfections, and contributing to the development of standardized approaches for global HIV epidemiological research.