Table 5.

Recommendations for Researchers

Language	Avoid use of “sterilizing.” Use “eradicating” or “eliminating” instead.
	Avoid use of “functional cure” and “remission.” Use terms such as “durable or sustained suppression.”
	Be careful and thoughtful using the term “cure” and the appropriateness of the context in which it is used. Consider terms such as “managing HIV persistence.”
Social science research	Provide people living with HIV information about current methodologies being pursued in search of a cure. Then explore their attitudes toward these methodologies.
	Use social science research to assist with guiding biomedical investment priorities.
	Consider prioritizing strategies that could potentially lead to viral eradication or elimination.
	Be mindful of potential psychological and social impacts for individuals participating in HIV cure research. Explore ways to help manage these.
Clinical studies	Incorporate acceptability and other social science research into actual HIV cure clinical studies.
Future social science research questions	When is it acceptable and ethical to implement treatment interruptions and how?
	How can we best avoid curative misperception?
	How do historical, policy, and other contextual factors impact stakeholder perceptions of HIV cure research?
	How should potential transmissibility during ATIs be addressed in differently resourced settings?
	What factors affect perceptions of trust between potential study participants and researchers?
	How do PLWHIV perceive specific cure interventions?
	What are the best ways to communicate HIV cure research risks, benefits, and realities?
	What are PLWHIV perceptions of current HIV cure research risks, benefits, and realities?
	How do PLWHIV assess risk/benefit trade-offs for trial participation of specific cure-associated methodologies?

PLWHIV, people living with HIV; ATI, analytic treatment interruption.