Register now for September 14th's CFAR Fall Retreat!

Registration is open for the 2023 CFAR Fall Scientific Retreat, held on Thursday, September 14th in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other CFAR researchers across Duke and hear from our amazing speakers!

News from the CFAR

CFAR Research Presented at International AIDS Society Conference

The 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023), held in Brisbane, Australia in July, featured research from several CFAR investigators.

The REPRIEVE trial symposium panel discussion at IAS 2023. Photo by @iasociety.

As detailed in an article from aidsmap: “Findings from the landmark REPRIEVE trial, which tested a daily statin medication for people living with HIV… were presented at a symposium that also included a discussion of cardiovascular disease among people with HIV and the study’s implications for clinical practice.

As aidsmap reported, the study showed that participants randomly assigned to receive pitavastatin had a 35% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other major cardiovascular events compared with the placebo group. The demographics, co-morbidities and laboratory values of the study participants reflected low to moderate cardiovascular risk – a group that normally would not be prescribed statins.

A growing body of research shows that people with HIV are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this risk is rising as they live longer thanks to effective antiretroviral therapy. But even those on consistent treatment can have persistent immune activation and inflammation that contribute to cardiovascular problems. Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and also have anti-inflammatory properties, so they could potentially address both traditional and non-traditional risk factors.

Dr. Gerald Bloomfield of Duke University in North Carolina, noted that the burden of CVD attributable to HIV is increasing worldwide, but ‘is not experienced equitably,’ with a more rapid increase in low- and middle-income countries. While heart disease deaths are still more common in high-income countries, that is partly because these countries have older populations – in fact, lower- and middle-income countries have higher age-standardised CVD mortality rates. The rise in CVD is particularly notable in countries that have experienced, ‘recent social and epidemiological transition,’ meaning a shift in mortality from infectious diseases to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).”

Read the full article from aidsmap.

Wilton Williams presents at IAS 2023.

Wilton Williams, PhD gave a plenary presentation at IAS in the Vaccines and Cure session titled “Engineered HIV-1 Immunogens to induce Broadly Neutralizing Antibody (bNAb) Responses”. Williams presented an overview of HIV-1 vaccine development, including strategies for eliciting effective anti-HIV antibody responses termed broadly-neutralizing antibodies (bNAb) that are capable of preventing infection by multiple different HIV-1 strains. Additionally, he presented a summary of the vaccine trial portfolio for induction of bNAbs by the Duke Consortium for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CHAVD) program, and the results of the HVTN133 human clinical trial that demonstrated vaccine induction of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies in humans that had characteristics of bNAbs, which has never been reported.

Guido Ferrari, MD gave a presentation titled “Requirements to harness ADCC responses for protection from HIV infection” during the Symposium on Immune responses critical for viral control and approaches to harness them in vivo. Ferrari reported findings related to the requirements for maturation (potency and somatic hypermutation) and breadth of antibody-dependent cellular-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). These responses are capable of eliminating virus infected cells and play an important role in protection and treatment of HIV-1 infection. Ferrari provided a review of findings in studies conducted with the Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) evaluating ADCC during acute HIV infection (RV254) and following immunization in Thailand (RV144 and RV305), and with the HIV Vaccine Trial Network (HVTN) for phase I and II clinical trial (HVTN 097 and 100) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The results highlighted the importance of repeated immunizations with delayed boosts to elicit potent ADCC responses; the breadth of ADCC responses required antigen diversity for the immunogen design. These concepts, i.e. multiple boost with delayed intervals using immunogens representing recently isolated HIV-1, were tested in a non-human primate study, designed by Duke Investigators at DHVI and Dr. Bette Korber, and revealed their importance in providing up to 66% protection from challenge with an heterologous virus.

Keith Reeves, PhD, gave an Invited talk at the HIV Cure & Immunotherapy Forum of IAS2023 entitled “Antigen-specific NK cells as a potential mechanism for virus control?” Dr. Reeves gave an overview of the current knowledge regarding natural killer (NK) cell-mediated prevention of HIV and the role of NK cells in post-treatment control. More specifically he elaborated on HIV antigen-specific NK cells which can be induced both virologically and by vaccines. For the first time, mechanisms of formation and infected cell recognition were shown, and importantly, Dr. Reeves discussed a roadmap for harnessing these cells therapeutically in persons living with HIV.

Cordelia Manickam DVM, PhD presented a short talk entitled ‘Perturbation of mucosal granulocytic effector cells in lentivirus infections’ which described the often-overlooked granulocytic effectors in health and disease, at the ‘Mechanisms of transmission and novelties in vaccine design’ session, IAS2023. Dr. Manickam presented a battery of cutting-edge assays developed to understand the roles of granulocytes, specifically neutrophils and eosinophils in lentiviral immune defense/pathology. Her results highlighted depletion of mucosal granulocytes and altered ability of peripheral granulocytes to respond to microbial stimuli, post chronic SHIV infection. Her talk underscored the mucosal significance and potential therapeutic implications of granulocytes against HIV.

Did you or someone else from your team present at IAS or another conference recently? Email Lizzy Knippler to share your news with the CFAR.

Read the full writeup on the CFAR website and read the IAS research roundup on HIV.gov.

Tanzanian Trainee and Long-time Collaborator James Ngocho Receives Emerging Global Leader Grant

James Ngocho in 2016 with Melissa Watt, then an assistant professor at DGHI & Duke CFAR SBS Core Co-Director, and Olivia Fletcher, a student in DGHI's Master of Science in Global Health program.

A recent article from the Duke Global Health Institute celebrates the success and career development of James Ngocho, M.D., Ph.D., who has collaborated with CFAR investigators for more than ten years:

In July, Ngocho, a lecturer with the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) in Moshi, Tanzania, became the first at KCMUCo, and just the third Tanzanian researcher, to earn an Emerging Global Leader grant (known as a K43) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Awarded by NIH’s Fogarty International Center, the highly competitive career-development grants provide critical early-career funding for young investigators in low- and middle-income countries. Ngocho will use the funds to lead research on ways to curb overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of respiratory infections in children under five.

But the award also marks a milestone for the Duke Global Health Institute, which has a long-running partnership with KCMUCo and its parent organization, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), to nurture promising young investigators such as Ngocho. An epidemiologist who has been working on DGHI projects in Moshi since 2013, Ngocho participated in a training program led by DGHI professor John Bartlett, M.D., to help junior faculty develop the skills to run their own research programs. It’s one of several NIH-funded training programs Bartlett has organized at KCMC over the past two decades.

“It’s a testament to the long arc of the partnership between Duke and KCMC,” says Matt Rubach, M.D., a DGHI associate professor and co-director of the Duke partnership with KCMC. “The goal is to help people like James become independent investigators, and this is an important step on that path.”

Ngocho gained experience conducting clinical research as a study coordinator for both Rubach and former DGHI professor Melissa Watt, Ph.D., now with the University of Utah. He also completed doctoral research with Blandina Mmbaga, M.D., Ph.D., the site leader for the KCMC-Duke partnership. The NIH award will allow Ngocho to build on those experiences while establishing his own turf as a researcher.

‘The one big thing I’ve had was the mentorship,” he says. “I think it shows that Duke and KCMC have done something that is really great. They are supporting us to develop the research skills we need to be mutual collaborators.”

Read the full article from DGHI.

Applications Due August 31st for Mentored Scholars in Quantitative Science Program

The highly successful Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS R25 Training Grant, has been renewed for another 5 years. In addition to the annual workshops and summer internship, a new program for ‘Mentored Scholars’ will be rolled out this year. This program familiarizes scholars with quantitative methods to improve 1) multidisciplinary team science communication, 2) experimental planning and design, and 3) data analysis directly applicable to an ongoing research project.

Learn more and apply.

Virtual Workshop on HIV and Aging



Tuesday, September 5, 2023 |10am - 4:30pm ET |Virtual

The objective of the research workshop is to convene a multisectoral group of researchers, community members, and federal partners to: (1) survey the current landscape of HIV and aging research; and (2) identify key future research directions to address the biomedical, behavioral, and social needs of people aging with HIV.

Learn more and register.

Register for Fall 2023 NC TraCS Qualitative Research Training Series



September & October 2023 |Virtual

Registration continues for the Fall 2023 NC TraCS Qualitative Research Training series offered by the UNC North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute.

Qualitative Research 101 – Thursday, September 7 | 10am-12pm

This online training session introduces qualitative research methods. Topics covered include differences between quantitative and qualitative research, qualitative research methodologies, strategies for qualitative data collection, and methods of qualitative data analysis. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences conducting qualitative research. Register here.

Semi-structured Interviewing Workshop – Thursday, September 14 |10am-12pm

This interactive online workshop focuses on semi-structured interviewing, a data collection method used in qualitative research. Topics covered include basics of semi-structured interviews, development of interview questions and probes, interviewing skills, and considerations for conducting virtual interviews. Participants will have the opportunity to practice developing interview questions and using interviewing skills. Register here.

Introduction to Focus Groups – Thursday, September 21 | 10am-12pm

This interactive online workshop introduces focus groups, a data collection method used in qualitative research. Topics covered include focus group methodology, considerations for planning a focus group, development of focus group discussion guides, focus group facilitation skills, and tips for conducting virtual focus groups. Attendees will also observe or participate in a mini "mock" virtual focus group session. Register here.

Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis – Tuesday, September 26 | 9:30am-12pm

This online training introduces basic qualitative data analysis, focusing on content/thematic analysis. The session covers the basics of qualitative data analysis and steps in the analysis process, including transcribing, memoing, codebook development and coding, using computer-based analysis software, exploring content areas or themes, and interpreting and communicating findings. Participants will have the opportunity to practice developing and applying codes. Please note: This training does not include a demonstration of how to use qualitative data analysis software. Register here.

Qualitative Data Analysis Workshop – Tuesday, October 3| 10am-12pm

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek feedback on their qualitative analysis from facilitators and other attendees. Participants will have a chance to discuss and review qualitative analysis techniques while also learning from others. To attend, participants must be working on a qualitative data analysis project. Participants can seek feedback on any step in the process (e.g., coding, creating matrices/diagrams/other products, developing categories or themes, summarizing data). Participants must have attended an Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis training offered by NC TraCS (either the session offered on September 26, 2023 or a previously offered session). Note: This session does not include an introduction to qualitative analysis. Participants will share where they are in their analysis process, ask questions about their analyses, and collectively discuss strategies for moving analyses forward. Eligibility screener.

Learn more and register.

Inter-CFAR Collaboration on HIV Research in Women September Seminar



Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | 9-10am ET | Zoom

The Inter-CFAR Collaboration on HIV Research in Women presents our September Seminar and speakers:

HIV, PrEP, and Women's Reproductive Health

Ashley George, PhD

Staff Research Scientist I, Roan Lab

Gladstone Institute of Virology

University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Ashley George’s research interest is in the area of mucosal immunity and women’s health. She completed her PhD in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences at Rutgers University, followed by postdoctoral studies in the lab of Dr. Nadia Roan at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and the University of California at San Francisco, where she is currently a Staff Research Scientist. Her work in the Roan Lab has focused on using CyTOF to better understand HIV pathogenesis and immune-mediated control of HIV, including within mucosal tissues. Ashley was recently awarded an NIH Pathway to Independence K99 grant focused on defining how biological factors in the female genital mucosa affect pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) activity, and on the effects of PrEP on female reproductive health. 

Barriers to HIV Cure Research in Women 

Sara Gianella Weibel, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

University of California, San Diego

Sara Gianella Weibel, M.D. works both at the UC San Diego Antiviral Research Center, and in her laboratory on the UC San Diego campus, where she oversees bench research. She is the director of the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Translational Virology Core and director of the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) Virology Specialty Laboratory, where she serves as part of several clinical trial protocol teams. Dr. Gianella has a broad background in clinical and translational virology, molecular biology and immunology. She is interested in applying the latest laboratory techniques and rigorous analytical methods to address some of the most pressing problems in infectious diseases. Her research includes investigating HIV persistence in various tissues and anatomical compartments across the human body and she is involved in the end-of-life Last Gift program. She is interested in understanding the transmission dynamics of HIV in the genital tract and its interactions with co/infecting viruses, especially but not limited to Cytomegalovirus. She is committed in contributing to understand sex and gender differences in HIV pathogenesis and persistence. Finally, she is investigating clinical complications related to persistent immune activation.

Register for the Zoom seminar.

Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Wellness Symposium



September 18-19, 2023 |On-Campus & Virtual

The Duke Sexual and Gender Minority Wellness Program is excited to announce that this year's Duke Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Wellness Symposium is scheduled for September 18-19, 2023. The symposium will offer virtual panels and on-campus events. Please save the dates on your calendars and share the attached flyer among your networks. 

We plan to host afternoon virtual panel discussions on the following topics:

• Transgender-centered reproductive health justice
• SGM-related Policies: Recap of 2023 and Planning for 2024
• Gaps and Opportunities in Adolescent Transition Care
• Global SGM Health and Human Rights
• Bisexuality, Pansexuality, Stigma and Health Equity
• Emerging Intersectionality in SGM Health

To stay connected to the Duke SGM Wellness Program and be notified when registration for the Symposium is open, join our listserv.

We're also calling for nominations for the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray Awards to be presented at the Symposium. To see descriptions of the Emerging Voices, Leader, Activist and Dissertation Awards and to nominate someone, go here.

Applications due September 14th for UCSF Mentoring the Mentors Workshop



October 24-25, 2023 |San Francisco, CA

Registration is open for the 9th Annual Mentoring the Mentors Workshop for HIV Researchers to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, October 24th and 25th, 2023 in San Francisco. Investigators interested in attending the workshop are asked to complete the Registration Form. The application process for participation in the workshop will close on Thursday, September 14, 2023. Registrants accepted to participate in the workshop will be notified by email the week of September 18, 2023.

The two-day workshop is an intensive and interactive meeting designed to provide faculty in HIV research with the tools for more effective mentoring, especially of mentees of diversity (defined mainly as those from underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities). The workshops discusses barriers related to being an early career investigator of diversity (e.g. microaggressions, unconscious bias), and features didactic and interactive sessions on practical tips for mentoring, including sessions on distance mentoring, funding sources for mentoring efforts, time management, leadership styles, manuscript writing, grant writing, individual development plans, teaching work-life balance to mentees, alternative funding strategies, forming teams, etc. Descriptions and findings from the 1st workshop, the 2nd workshop and the 3^rd workshop are found here.

We are also hosting the 2^nd annual Inter-CFAR Meeting for CFAR-affiliated Underrepresented Minorities in HIV Research on the Monday of that week (October 23^rd). This facilitated strategy meeting will outline goals to support URM research and career development across the CFAR network and allow URM investigators to network across career stages and research topics. More information coming soon on this meeting

Learn more about the workshop.

Abstracts due September 11th for 2023 Inter-CFAR Women and HIV Symposium



December 6-7, 2023 |San Francisco, CA

The goal of the Inter-CFAR Women and HIV Symposium is to identify gaps in knowledge in HIV and women’s research and develop strategies that will move the field forward. In order to accomplish this goal, we aim to generate collaborative activity between CFARs and other research networks, highlighting cutting-edge science and promoting opportunities for early career investigators.

 The Symposium will feature three sessions on the following topics:

• Reproductive Health, in particular the US Perinatal Guidelines on Breastfeeding with HIV: From Policy to Practice
• Antiretroviral Therapy and Metabolism in the Era of INSTIs: Sex and Gender Differences
• Aging with HIV across the Gender Spectrum

Registration for the 2023 Inter-CFAR Women and HIV Symposium will open in September (sign up on our Membership Form to make sure to receive communications). There will be no registration fee.

The planning committee solicits abstracts for posters and oral presentations related to all areas of HIV among women including prevention, treatment, and cure. Abstracts may be submitted by investigators of any level.

Abstracts will be considered for both oral and poster presentation, with 12 oral presentations to be competitively selected with special consideration to meritorious abstracts submitted by early-stage investigators (pre-doctoral students through Assistant Professors) and investigators from groups historically underrepresented in the U.S. research enterprise, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Abstracts must be no more than 350 words in length. Review criteria include overall impact, contribution to the field of HIV in women, and responsiveness to NIH Office of AIDS Research Priorities.

Abstracts are due Monday, September 11, 2023.

Full travel scholarships will be awarded to oral presenters, and partial travel scholarships will be awarded to poster presenters.

Please let Mary Oris know if you are planning to submit an abstract.

Learn more about the symposium and abstract submission. 

Abstracts due September 27th for CROI 2024



March 3-6, 2024 |Denver, CO

The next edition of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) will be held in Denver, Colorado from March 3rd-6th 2024. The Preliminary CROI 2024 Program is available at CROIconference.org.

Abstract Submission

General abstract submission will open on August 31, 2023, and close on September 27, 2023.

• We accept cutting-edge scientific research on HIV, tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, mpox, and related conditions during the general abstract submission period. Late-breaking abstracts that include any of these conditions will be considered during a separate submission period at the end of the year. 
• As always, CROI is a forum for high-quality scientific research across disciplines. The categories for abstract submission are available at CROI 2024 Abstract Categories. We are particularly excited to review submissions related to Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Epidemiology, and Public Health that include perspectives from the behavioral and social sciences and have an expert review panel for these submissions specifically. 
• We have introduced several significant changes to the Abstract Guidelines and Submission, with new guidance on acceptable tables and figures, prior publication, authorship, and the use of generative artificial intelligence, among other issues.

Opportunities for New Investigators

CROI has a long tradition of supporting trainees and researchers in their early career development stages. For 2024 we will continue to feature program activities specifically designed for New Investigators attending CROI, including: 

• The Scott M. Hammer Workshop for New Investigators and Trainees: The presentations at this workshop provide state-of-the-art overviews of new and emerging science with a guide to key developments being presented at this year’s CROI.  
• Meet the Luminary Sessions: These small, informal sessions encourage close interaction between New Investigators and scientific leaders in Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Epidemiology, and Public Health. 
• Poster Walks: These small-group tours of the poster hall are based on a specific theme and are led by Program Committee members. 
• Other focused networking opportunities for New Investigators to meet future colleagues as they engage with other attendees. 

Please encourage your eligible colleagues and trainees to consider applying for the New Investigator scholarship program as they submit abstracts for the September 27 deadline. In addition to financial support to attend the meeting, this provides an entry point to register for our activities designed for New Investigators. 

Learn more about the conference and abstract submission. 

Diversity Supplement Opportunity for Student, Post-Doc, or Early Stage Investigator

Interested in applying to NIH for an diversity supplement? A Duke faculty member has recently received NIH funding and is interested in working with a student, post-doc, or early stage investigator on writing and submitting a diversity supplement application.

Title of parent grant: Designing an ethnodrama intervention addressing PrEP stigma toward young women in Kenya/R01TW012673

Description: Young cisgender women (YCW) in Kenya are affected by HIV at a disproportionate rate. PrEP-related and other stigmas are barriers to HIV prevention. Using qualitative findings from our previous R21 research, we will develop, pre-test, and pilot test a theory-based ethnodrama intervention designed to transform community member beliefs about and foster support of YCW using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, thereby reducing enacted, anticipated, and internalized stigma. During the first year of the grant, we will work closely with partners (Kenya-based drama groups and a U.S.-based drama group who uses drama for social change) to develop the ethnodrama storylines and performance structure (e.g., number of performances, locations, audience engagement components), while also engaging a newly-formed community advisory group throughout development. Year 2 involves intervention and instrument pre-testing. In year 3, we will establish two study cohorts and engage the community in a multi-month process to pilot the intervention, using quantitative and qualitative approaches to gather data on the intervention’s potential impact on changing the narrative among community members toward young women taking PrEP and on young women’s perceptions of PrEP-related and other stigmas.

Location: Kisumu, Kenya

Partners: Kawango Agot (co-I) with Impact Research and Development Organization in Kisumu Kenya; Lyn Dickinson (co-I) with Theater Delta in the U.S.; Michael Relf (co-I) with Duke Nursing and Global Health.

Timeline: Funded July 2023. Three-year grant.

Interested? Contact Amy Corneli, PI (amy.corneli@duke.edu) with a description of proposed complementary research questions and ideas.

HIV Stigma Reduction RFA and Opportunity to Collaborate with DGHI Core for Advancing Policy Engagement

Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) - PAR-23-190

The purpose of this NOFO is to solicit Research Project Grant (R01) applications for up to 3 years of support to develop and test interventions to reduce the impact of HIV-associated stigma on the prevention and treatment of HIV infection and/or AIDS, and on the quality of life of People Living with HIV and/or AIDS (PLWH). The NOFO will also support interventions to address the multiple intersecting stigmas and measurement of the stigmas at individual levels.

The Core for Advancing Policy Engagement (CAPE) at the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) is led by Gavin Yamey and Osondu Ogbuoji. They are eager partner with investigators interested in the RFA and would like to add a policy/advocacy component to this RFA.

NIH Build UP Trust Challenge

We are excited to share a new NIH opportunity, the NIH Build UP Trust Challenge, which seeks solutions that increase research participation and the adoption of medical care by building trust and improving engagement with historically underserved communities. The NIH Common Fund Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society (ComPASS) Program is co-funding this Challenge prize competition.

The NIH Build UP Trust prize challenge aims to identify new and promising scalable strategies that increase research participation and the adoption of existing and new tools and approaches to detect, treat, and monitor diseases, conditions, and disorders by improving engagement with minority health populations and populations with health disparities. The NIH will award a total of up to $1.25 million. As many as ten finalists will win up to $45,000 each and get the opportunity to compete for one of four $200,000 prizes.

Important dates:

• To complete a submission, participants must register on the Build Up Trust website no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
• All submissions are due no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
• NIH will announce up to ten Finalists in May 2024.

Because we are aware of the time and resources required to build a winning submission, interested participants are encouraged to complete this readiness tool to help determine whether to apply. This form is not required. The information shared through this form will remain confidential and will only be shared with the NIH Build UP Trust Challenge team for informational purposes.

For more details about the challenge opportunity, see the NIH Build UP Trust Challenge website, which includes FAQs, a scoring rubric, and a timeline. Please direct all inquiries to questions@builduptrust.org.

A compilation of funding opportunities can be found on the CFAR website.

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