Core L - Clinical & Behavioral Sciences Core

Miriam Hospital, Providence RI

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT CoreL: CLINCAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES CORE The Providence/Boston Centers for AIDS Research (Prov/Bos CFAR) Clinical and Behavioral Sciences Core (CBSC) (formerly the BioBehavioral Sciences Core) supports innovative clinical and behavioral research, individually or in concert, which are critical to improving outcomes along the HIV treatment and prevention cascades. This approach has positioned us at the forefront of translational science to move efficacious HIV treatment and preventive interventions into real-world settings. Research supported by the Core involves vulnerable populations, including African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities; gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM); people with HIV and tuberculosis co-morbid infection or disease; justice-involved individuals; women; adolescents and young adults; and persons living in hyperepidemic resource-limited settings. Our diverse clinical and behavioral services support HIV research in five areas and comprise our aims: 1) provide access to populations of persons with HIV and persons at risk for HIV infection, including associated data. This includes support with participant recruitment, enrollment, and retention to advance clinical and behavioral research; 2) provide services to support innovative clinical and behavioral data collection approaches, including methods, tools, and assessments; 3) provide expertise and services related to regulatory and human subjects’ compliance, and the ethical conduct of research for vulnerable populations; 4) provide expertise and services to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to improve HIV prevention and continuum of care outcomes; and 5) provide specialized services for the conduct of implementation science research, as well as performing cost-effectiveness research. Examples of the innovative clinical and behavioral research supported by our Core include exploring the use of long-acting injectable ART and PrEP, and work addressing HIV care and prevention disparities in the Deep South. Other innovations include a theory-driven approach that extends the influence of CFAR on HIV science by facilitating new networks across the region, between cities and heavily-impacted states, and in international sites. The Core Co-Directors, Key Core Faculty, and Core Manager have the requisite skills and expertise to provide the services offered. The CBSC faculty and staff review existing projects, brainstorm new research ideas, foster new research collaborations, promote the use of available datasets and repository specimens, and explore the development of compatible cross-site datasets. The CBSC is central to the overall mission of the Prov/Bos CFAR and promotes and supports clinical and behavioral research addressing NIH Office of AIDS Research priority areas.