Center for Aids Research (CFAR) Cores

Overview

Clinical and Translational Science Core

The Clinical and Translational Science Core (CTSC) supports the initiation and expansion of HIV-related clinical, translational and implementation research by assisting researchers in recruiting participants for both clinical trials (e.g. eradication research or pathogenesis) and for observational studies by active recruitment of patients with rare phenotypes (e.g. elite or viremic controllers). It will utilize three robust clinical databases to identify well-characterized patients for recruitment, inform research assessing policy, contextual, clinic/practice and individual factors impacting uptake and outcomes of delivered services, and support access to and analysis of data. The three clinical databases are the Clinical Cohort, with over 16,000 HIV-infected and 285,000 HIV-negative patients cared for by Montefiore/Einstein clinical services, the Amida Care Cohort which leverages the informatics resources of Amida Care, the largest Medicaid Special Needs Plan in NYS, with >6,000 PLWH in NYC and the Master Research Cohort which has centralized data and specimen information from ~4700 participants in 31 funded research studies. CTSC maintains an infrastructure to facilitate recruitment and enrollment from all three cohorts into clinical trials, observational and translational studies requiring new specimens or special studies (e.g. functional MRI) in HIV-infected individuals with specified clinical characteristics.

Biomarkers & Advanced Technologies Core

This Core provides an extensive array of support services ranging from the measurement of a wide range of biomarkers to the molecular quantification of HIV DNA and RNA to the development and implementation of specialized high-throughput assays focused on supporting basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological ERC-CFAR investigators engaged in the ERC-CFAR mission to prevent, treat, and eradicate HIV-1 infection. Among the services provided by the Core are analysis of sera, plasma, CSF, cervical-vaginal lavage fluid, tissue culture supernatants and cell lysates from humans, rodents and macaques for quantification of biomarkers such as cytokines/chemokines, growth factors and other mediators using high-throughput multiplex platforms and focused ELISAs. The Core also provides full support for a wide range of molecular assays for evaluating HIV infection including RT-qPCR and digital PCR for quantification of HIV viral RNA and DNA and for the quantification of the latent HIV-infected cell population. The BATC provides access to the Case Western CFAR Virology, Next Generation Sequencing and Imaging Core (http://casemed.case.edu/cfar/cores/virology) for support for studies requiring deep HIV sequencing and mutational analysis in laboratory and clinical isolates. The Core can produce large quantities of purified proteins in eukaryotic or prokaryotic expression systems for in vivo studies requiring large quantities of biological proteins including specific cytokines, chemokines and monoclonal antibodies.

Behavioral and Implementation Sciences Core

The Behavioral and Implementation Science Core (BISC) facilitates the development and implementation of interdisciplinary, theory-driven, rigorous behavioral and social science research that aligns bench, bedside, and community to prevent new HIV infections and improve HIV care. It provides technical assistance on study design, qualitative and mixed methods through a new Qualitative Method Resource, access to the Cognitive Interview Lab, a new resource staffed by trained interviewers who can test new measures and evaluate whether existing measures fit new populations or purposes and advises on existing, and guides the development of new, biomarkers for behavioral outcomes including ART and PrEP adherence. It also leads the ERC-CFAR Community Participatory Partnership to partner with the community in the ERC-CFAR research program and to mentor ESI, community and clinical researchers in behavioral research methods and the engagement of the community in research studies.

Leadership

Clinical and Translational Science Core
Dr. Kathy Anastos
Director, ERC Clinical Translational and Implementation Science Core

Biomarkers & Advanced Technologies Core
Dr. Joan Berman
Director, Biomarkers & Advanced Technology Core

Dr. Steven Almo
Co-Director, Biomarkers & Advanced Technology Core

Behavioral and Implementation Sciences Core
Dr. Laurie Bauman
Director, ERC-CFAR Behavioral and Implementation Science Core

Location and hours of operation

Links and Resources

1. Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research Homepage
2. Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research Core Facilities

Contacts