Dissemination Core

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

Dissemination Core The Southeast Translational Alcohol and HIV Research (STAHR) Center focuses on alcohol, gut dysbiosis and dysbiosis derived metabolites, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and GLP-1 receptor agonists, systemic inflammation, and heart disease risk in people with HIV (PWH). All three scientific projects test interventions to reduce alcohol consumption and/or mitigate alcohol’s harmful health effects in PWH. This Dissemination Core aims to amplify the impact of the STAHR Center through a full-circle approach that pairs dissemination of new scientific knowledge with training and community-driven requests for learning and research. The Southeast region of the USA is burdened by multiple intersecting morbidities: high HIV prevalence at the center of the HIV epidemic, with the second-highest rates of new cases nationally, and high prevalence of unhealthy alcohol consumption among PWH, all compounded by regional variations in the burden of cardiovascular disease and cancer, smoking, and liver injury from viral hepatitis, diabetes, obesity, and alcohol consumption. Simultaneously, the region is home to multiple intersecting resources, strong faith communities, and excellent clinical, academic, and community organizations working to prevent and curtail the impact of intersecting morbidities for PWH. The STAHR Dissemination Core will leverage, integrate, and augment these resources, catalyzing efforts to address alcohol use and its harmful effects among PWH. Our strategy leverages key infrastructure and relationships that we and others have built over the past decade as well as new strategic partnerships that we have initiated over the past year in preparation for this P60 application. Collectively, these partnerships extend our reach further into communities affected by HIV and alcohol use. We execute this strategy across three audience communities: scientific, trainee/health professional, and patients. In Aim 1, we engage global scientific communities to highlight, discuss, and advance impactful science to reduce the burden of unhealthy alcohol use among PWH. For example, our annual HIV and alcohol satellite meeting at the Research Society on Alcoholism annual meeting offers a forum for investigators and mentees from around the world to present their work. In Aim 2, we engage and train the next generation of scientists and health professionals who will advance and translate research to prevent and treat unhealthy alcohol use in PWH through organizations such as the Southeast AIDS Education Training Center (SE-AETC) and K12 training programs. In Aim 3, we engage PWH communities in the Southeast USA to disseminate current alcohol/ HIV research and influence future alcohol/HIV research via several organizations (e.g., Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (TN-CFAR), Nashville CARES). The STAHR Center Dissemination Core proposes a comprehensive, community-engaged approach to education and dissemination, at the local/regional, national, and international level.