Author: bferrin@oicinspired.org

Charlotte-Paige Rolle, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Research Operations at Orlando Immunology Center, was featured in TheBodyPro discussing her work leading clinical trials at one of Central Florida’s most diverse HIV treatment centers.

Orlando Immunology Center serves roughly 4,800 people living with HIV, about 30% of them cisgender women, along with 1,000 to 1,200 PrEP patients. That diversity, Dr. Rolle explained, is part of why OIC is consistently a top-enrolling site for national clinical trials: FDA guidelines now require trials to reflect the demographics of the HIV epidemic, and a patient population that already reflects that makes equitable research possible.

Dr. Rolle also spoke about what excites her most in the current research pipeline: ultra-long-acting antiretroviral therapy, including options that could finally serve heavily treatment-experienced patients with drug resistance who have had limited options until now. She presented related data on a long-acting regimen combining lotivibart and cabotegravir at CROI 2026 earlier this year.

Source: TheBodyPro, May 2026

Dr. Charlotte-Paige Rolle, Director of Research Operations at Orlando Immunology Center, presented updated results from the EMBRACE trial at CROI 2026 (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections) in Denver.

EMBRACE is a Phase IIb study evaluating lotivibart, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, combined with cabotegravir as a maintenance regimen for people with HIV who are already virologically suppressed on daily therapy. The trial enrolled participants across 45 sites in the US and Puerto Rico, including Orlando Immunology Center.

At one year, 94% of participants receiving lotivibart by infusion plus cabotegravir maintained an undetectable viral load, comparable to the 88% suppression rate seen with standard daily oral therapy. The infusion regimen was also notably better tolerated than the injectable form of lotivibart: only 8% of participants reported injection site reactions, compared to 51% in the group receiving lotivibart by injection, and no participants discontinued due to side effects (versus three in the injection group).

For people living with HIV who are looking for alternatives to a daily pill, these results add to a growing body of evidence that long-acting regimens can maintain viral suppression as effectively as standard therapy, with fewer of the day-to-day burdens.

Source: aidsmap, March 2026

Orlando Immunology Center has begun enrollment for EXPRESSIVE (MK8527-011), a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating MK-8527, an investigational oral tablet taken once a month for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Current PrEP options require either a daily pill or a bimonthly injection. A once-monthly oral option could offer an alternative for people who want strong HIV prevention without either of those commitments.

The study is sponsored by Merck and open to adults who are HIV-negative and at increased risk of HIV exposure. Eligible participants will undergo a screening period of up to 45 days, followed by a 30-month treatment phase and a 28-day follow-up visit. A stipend is provided at each study visit.

If you’re interested in learning whether you may qualify, contact our research team for a confidential pre-screening.