PAST NEWS AND EVENTS

HIV treatment and TB risk

by Bill Snyder | Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, 8:00 AM

Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem, particularly among people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

It has been observed that the risk of TB is increased in the six months following initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV. To formally evaluate this risk, April Pettit, M.D., MPH, Timothy Sterling, M.D., and colleagues studied more than 26,000 HIV-infected adults enrolled in a U.S.-Canadian cohort between 1998 and 2011.

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2016/08/hiv-treatment-and-tb-risk/

 
Dr. Carolyn Wester speaks at the White House for Hepatitis Testing Event

On May 19, 2016, Dr. Carolyn Wester (Tennessee Department of Health) of our Tennessee CFAR was invited to speak at the White House for the Hepatitis Testing Event.

 

TN-CFAR Works in Progress Conference

When:  May 16, 2016:

Where: Vanderbilt ID Division

Topic: "Sequencing the T cell receptor repertoire to characterize the immune response to HIV"

Presenter: Mark Pilkinton, MD, PhD

 

Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance Community Engagement Research Proseminar Series continues

Tailored for  Community Engaged Research Core Post-Doctoral Fellows, but open to all researchers interested in Community Engaged Research. Hosted by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance.

Session 1: April 28, 3-4:30 p.m. - Community Engagement and Ethics, with David Schlundt and Maureen Sanderson

Session 2: May 3, 9-10:30 a.m. - Overview of Community Engaged Research, with Leah Alexander

Session 3: May 10, 4-5 p.m. - Dissemination, with Shari Barkin

Session 4: May 17, 2:30-4 p.m. - Building Effective Partnerships, with Velma Murry and Barbara Clinton

Session 5: May 17, 4-5 p.m. - Nashville 101, with Tiffany Israel

Session 6: May 24, 3:30-5 p.m. - Evaluation of Community Partnerships with Sarah Suiter

All sessions will be held in Conference Room B of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (1999 Meharry Blvd). Street and pay parking available.

RSVP for more information: Lexie.Lipham@Vanderbilt.Edu

 

First subject enrolled in international HIV prevention study

by Paul Govern | Thursday, Apr. 14, 2016, 8:58 AM

This month an international HIV prevention trial was launched that is testing the infection-preventing prowess of a monoclonal antibody called VRCO1.

Matthew Seckman is the first enrollee of an international HIV prevention clinical trial that Vanderbilt University Medical Center is taking part in.

Created spontaneously by the immune system of a patient with HIV, VRCO1 was identified as a broadly neutralizing HIV antibody in 2010. It attaches to HIV and blocks it from binding to human T-cells.

The Antibody Mediated Prevention (AMP) study is a randomized controlled trial, with one track underway in Brazil, Peru and the United States, and another track set to launch in seven African countries. The Americas track will eventually enroll 2,700 participants at 27 study sites, including 18 sites in the United States.

According to the study’s coordinating center, on April 6, Vanderbilt University Medical Center became the first AMP study site to enroll a participant. The study’s first enrollee is Matthew Seckman, an administrative assistant II at Vanderbilt.

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2016/04/first-subject-enrolled-in-internatio…

 

October 20-21, 2016: 10th Annual CFAR Social Behavioral Sciences Research Network (SBSRN) meeting 

When:  October 20-21, 2016

Where: Miami, FL

"SBSRN is turning 10. And what better place to go double digits but in Miami, October 20-21, 2016 with a mentoring day for early career and transitional investigators on Oct. 19, 2016. We hope you will join us as top HIV/AIDS researchers from around the country discuss the latest in research and future directions of behavioral research. Register today and get the early bird special. And one of the limited hotel rooms available for this meeting." Click the link below and start the process to join us in Miami this fall.

https://upenn.irisregistration.com/Site/cfarsbsrn10

 

CDC Releases Important New Data on Testing and Treatment Globally in Advance of World AIDS Day

http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/wad/wadmmwr.html

 

March 2016: Statewide HIV Meeting (hosted by Tennessee Department of Health)

In March and September of each year the State of Tennessee convenes a stateside HIV planning meeting. The specific date is to be announced.

 

$1.5M HIV, hepatitis intervention targets at-risk young black males

HIV diagnoses are disproportionately high among young African American males, especially those who engage in sexual activity with men (MSM). A new $1.5 million Vanderbilt study supported by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services is addressing this troubling trend. The study is a unique partnership with First Response Center, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS prevention and care organization run by Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in North Nashville.

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/11/hiv-hepatitis-intervention-targets-a…

 

Weekly TN-CFAR Biostatistics Clinics

On July 7, 2015, The Tennessee CFAR started sponsoring weekly, walk-in Biostatistics Clinics rotating between Vanderbilt, Meharry, and the Tennessee Department of Health.  At these clinics, researchers can discuss any statistical questions with TN-CFAR statisticians.  This would be a good time to discuss analysis plans, sample size calculations, study designs for grant proposals (e.g., Development Core award applications), statistical methods used in a paper, strategies for responding to statistical reviewers, etc., and to start some basic analyses.  See a listing of clinic times at https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/tncfar/tn-cfar-biostatistics-clinics.

 

Meharry Medical College 59th Annual Student Research Day

Drug Abuse and HIV Progression  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL_rrl9ZVDk

Published March 17, 2015

 

March 3, 2016: "Medical Grand Rounds (Meharry)"

Topic: "Empowering Women and Girls on What they Need to Know About HIV/AIDS" 

Presenter: Donald J. Alcendor, PhD

When:  12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Where: S.S Kresge Learning Resource Center, Meharry Medical College

 

February 5, 2016: "The 5th Annual Dr. Jaqueline Fleming Hampton Lecture"

Topic: "In Recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" 

Presenter: Robert Fullilove, EdD; Columbia University

When:  11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Where: The Cal Turner Center for Student Learning; Meharry Medical College

Contact: Malcolm Woodward (615-327-9096) or Sandra Settles (615-327-6425)

January 27, 2016: Webcast Wednesday

Topic: "Retention and Engagement in Care" 
Presenter: Beverly Woodward, MSN, RN

When:  8:00 – 9:00 am CST / 9:00 – 10:00 am EST
Where: 5th Floor Conference Room at Vanderbilt Health at 100 Oaks.

​Link to webcast: https://aetcnec.virtualforum.com/pifidform.cfmerid=51133&sc=361769&aetc… 

December 3, 2015: Infectious Diseases Grand Rounds

Topic: "Progress Towards a cure: Understanding HIV Reservoir Sites" 
Presenter: James Riddell, MD, FIDSA; Associate Professor Infectious Diseases; University of Michigan 
When:  Noon – 1:00 pm 
Where: A2200 Med Center North (ID Division)

November 9, 2015: VIGH Grand Rounds

Topic: “The Transmission Prevention Intervention Project in Athens, Odessa, and Chicago: Field challenges in a network HIV intervention in key populations”

Presenter: Sam Friedman, PhD, from National Development & Research Institutes, Inc.

When: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Where: 2525 West End Building

November 16, 2015: Special Seminar

Topic: "Peptidoglycan remodeling during mycobacterial cell division and tuberculosis disease”

Presenter: Bavesh Kana, Ph.D.; Head of Unit, Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research; University of Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

When: 11AM - 12PM, 3 PM

Where: Light Hall, Room 202

November 4, 2015: CFAR Works in Progress

When: 11AM - 12PM

Where: A2200 MCN, ID Division (big conference room)

Presenter: John Koethe, MD, PhD

Topic: "The Role of Immune Activation in HIV-associated Metabolic Disease”

November 2, 2015: PMI Seminar

When: 12 PM - 1 PM

Where: 214 Light Hall

Speaker: David Haas, MD

Topic: "Pharmacogenomics of HIV Therapy"

July 7, 2015: NEW* TN-CFAR Biostatistics Clinics

On July 7, 2015, The Tennessee CFAR started sponsoring weekly, walk-in Biostatistics Clinics rotating between Vanderbilt, Meharry, and the Tennessee Department of Health.  At these clinics, researchers can discuss any statistical questions with TN-CFAR statisticians.  This would be a good time to discuss analysis plans, sample size calculations, study designs for grant proposals (e.g., Development Core award applications), statistical methods used in a paper, strategies for responding to statistical reviewers, etc., and to start some basic analyses.  See a listing of clinic times at https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/tncfar/tn-cfar-biostatistics-clinics.

June 25, 2015:  Researchnews@Vanderbilt released an article about our new TN-CFAR award

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2015/06/aids-research-center/?utm_source=res…

May 18, 2015:  Developmental Core Awards Funding Opportunity Announcement 

On May 18, 2015 the Tennessee CFAR officially released its inaugural Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Developmental Core Awards. The Letter of Intent Deadline is July 21, 2015, and the Application Deadline: September 7, 2015. These awards are intended to support studies for short periods of time to develop preliminary data for highly competitive extramural research applications. Selected aspects of the FOA are provided below. Please refer to the full FOA document (available at FUNDING section of this wepbage) for detailed instructions and additional important information.