Warm holiday wishes - see you in 2023!

The Duke CFAR sends you and your loved ones warm wishes for a joyous, restful, and healthy holiday season. We are thankful for all of the hard work, growth, and success in 2022 and look forward to the new year!

News from the CFAR

Spotlight on Department of Medicine CFAR Investigators at the Forefront of AIDS Research

Reflecting on the over 40 years of research since the discovery of HIV, the Department of Medicine recognized its many faculty members working at the forefront of HIV research and the contributions of the Duke CFAR. A featured article highlights the CFAR, led by Drs. Georgia Tomaras and Susanna Naggie, and shines a spotlight on four young faculty members who help represent the diverse portfolio of HIV-related research at Duke. From the article:

“These Department of Medicine research stars span four areas of HIV/AIDS research: computational biology, clinical implementation, lab-based science and social and behavioral science,” Naggie says. “While their research programs are independent, they work collectively as part of the Duke CFAR team. They truly represent the ideals of One Duke as they work to improve the health and lives of those living with HIV.”

Drs. Lance Okeke and Amy Corneli lead game-changing studies to understand the U.S. South epidemic and implement effective prevention programs. “These studies are likely to have a global impact and inspire inclusion of new early career investigators into the field,” Tomaras says. “Dr. Maria Blasi’s innovative basic science laboratory seeks to uncover mechanisms of HIV infection and disease in the kidney to ultimately improve clinical care -in part through a unique surgical resource enabled by the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act. Computational biologist Dr. Kevin Wiehe is working on identifying and utilizing knowledge of improbable mutations in HIV antibody lineages to essentially change the design of HIV vaccines so they can be laser focused to overcome these specific roadblocks on the way to protective immunity”.

Read the full article.

School of Nursing Advanced Practice Nursing Specialty Expands Essential Services to Those with HIV

The Duke University School of Nursing HIV Specialty allows advanced practice providers to keep serving their communities while completing their studies.

A recent article highlights the importance of training the next generation of HIV clinicians with a focus on social determinants of health and mental health. CFAR member Kara McGee, DMSc PA-C, AAHIVS helps lead the program.

"This December 1, the world observes its 35th AIDS Day, with this year’s theme, 'Putting Ourselves to the Test: Achieving Equity to End HIV', highlighting the pronounced inequities in HIV prevention and treatment. The Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) HIV Specialty, a distance-learning program for nurse practitioners, has been answering that call for the past eight years, particularly addressing those services defined as essential since HIV has transitioned from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic illness.

'As life expectancy increases among those living with HIV, clinicians in a primary care setting must be equipped to address their needs,' said Kara McGee, DMSc PA-C, AAHIVS, associate professor and lead faculty of DUSON’s HIV specialty program. 'One thing we teach, in addition to the medical management of HIV, is the psychosocial perspective and understanding the impact of HIV on mental health. For example, depression due to isolation, experiences of discrimination or stigmatization, even by family and friends, can lead a person living with HIV to have trouble adhering to their treatment regimen. Equipping NPs to address the full spectrum of needs of people living with HIV is essential to assuring that they live long, healthy and happy lives.'"

Read the full article.

Dr. Julius Wilder talks about equity, diversity, and inclusion

Julius Wilder, MD, PhD is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist and Chair of the Department of Medicine’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism committee (DEIAR). He has previously received a CFAR microgrant for work on antiretroviral switches in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. In this spotlight, he talks about balancing his oversight of efforts to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within his Department while still practicing clinical care. He also talks about how his doctorate in medical sociology complements his perspective as a clinician, his hopes for reducing health disparities in our local community, and his loves of jazz, time with family, and watching Duke basketball when he’s not at work.

Read the spotlight.

Call for Proposals: Duke Quantitative Summer Internship in HIV/AIDS (submit by Dec 30th)

Through an NIAID funded research education program, the Quantitative Sciences Core can sponsor fully funded graduate student interns to perform HIV/AIDS research over summer.

The Duke Quantitative Methods in HIV/AIDS Summer Internship is designed for quantitative graduate students to do research on HIV/AIDS projects proposed by the HIV/AIDS research community. Now in its 5th year, the Summer Internship is seeking research proposals for the summer 2023 program (May – July). Successful proposals should involve data analysis, visualization, machine learning, computer simulation, mathematical modeling, software development or device engineering, and may optionally include opportunities for fieldwork or hands-on bench work in the lab. Examples of previous proposals are linked here: Previous Proposals

All interns will be co-mentored by the HIV/AIDS researcher (or designated lab member) and a quantitative researcher (e.g., a biostatistician or biomedical engineer). The Program will provide a suitable quantitative mentor for all funded projects, but let us know if you prefer to work with a specific statistician or computational biologist who is familiar with the project. The objective of the internship is to introduce quantitative graduate students to HIV/AIDS research and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations. This has been extremely successful – for example, in the 2021 internship survey, all interns rated the program experience as very good or excellent, and more than half of interns responded that were somewhat or very likely to pursue a career in HIV in the future.

Expectations of mentors (either PI or designated group member)

• Collaborate with the quantitative mentor over the internship period
• Prepare expectations, objectives and a structured research plan for the intern
• Ensure that any resources necessary are available at the start of the internship (e.g. data sets)
• Meet regularly with intern to provide guidance

Accepted proposals must have the required information below

• PI
• Lab Mentor (optional)
• Quantitative Mentor (optional- one will be assigned if there is none suggested)
• Research Project Summary: Title, Research Question(s), Research Context/Background
• Desired quantitative skills, if known (High/Medium/Low/Not required)
• Statistics
• Bioinformatics
• Computational biology
• Mathematical modeling
• Engineering
• Programming (state preferred language if known)
• Other

For assistance with crafting a successful project proposal, CLICK HERE to request a consultation.

Submit your proposal for the 2023 Quantitative Methods in HIV Summer Internship by December 30, 2022.

If you have any questions about the internship, please contact Kelly Sune (kelly.sune@duke.edu).

Learn more and submit a proposal.

SBS Core Rocket Talk - Scientific Communication Series: Policy Communication

Monday, January 9th, 2023 | 11am-12pm ET | Zoom

Please join us for January’s Rocket Talk hosted by the CFAR SBS Core:

This talk will focus on communicating research findings to policy makers as part of our Scientific Communication Series. Representative Graig Meyer and Jenni Owen, Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the Governor, will share their expertise in communicating research in the legislature and translating findings to policy.

We hope you will join us for this information-packed session!

Zoom information

Meeting URL: https://duke.zoom.us/j/97783403381?pwd=MmV6RlNwNkcvWXpMdzhaUXlTYWoxUT09

Meeting ID: 977 8340 3381

Passcode: 356204

December Rocket Talk Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended our December Rocket Talk on Scientific Communication: Interdisciplinary Communication last week. If you were unable to attend, you can view the recording of the session on the Duke CFAR YouTube page.

This Rocket Talk focused on scientific communication with an interdisciplinary lens. Dr. Christine Daniels presented Reimagining Science Communication Through a Medical Anthropological Framework, focusing on using anthropological methods to navigate conversations and interactions in the biomedical field. Science and medicine are culturally influenced, and we must begin by listening to its audience, and focusing on their engagement and questions. Lastly, Daniels explored the biopsychosocial model; which asks questions about a person’s mental, emotional, and social health, compared to only focusing on their symptoms.

Dr. Ariana Eily presented Talking is Hard: How do we communicate our science effectively? Which focuses on the barriers that keep us from seeing our disciplines together, and four main steps for how to communicate and collaborate with different audiences.

1. Identify Your Message
2. Think About Your Audience
3. Make Your Language Accessible
4. Tell a Story that Connects

B-Cell and T-Cell Flow Cytometry Workshop facilitated by Immunology Core

Tuesday, January 31st, 2023 | 9am-4pm ET |MSRBI 001

Register now for this workshop facilitated by the CFAR Immunology Core.

The flow-cytometry-based assays enable high through-put in vitro qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenotypic and functional markers expressed by antigen-specific B and T cellular subsets.

We have designed two sessions to meet different levels or interest by both basic science and clinical investigators. Importantly, we will provide information on how the investigators can leverage the combined expertise of the CFAR Immunology and DHVI Flow cytometry cores to support research of existing funded projects as well as new grant applications.

The first 90 minutes of the B & T-Cell Flow Cytometry Workshop will include sessions tailored for those new to flow cytometry who would like to learn the principles and basic applications of the assays but is also for those who would like a refresher. These sessions will cover the principles of the assay, including some basic technical aspects related to instruments and reagents, the importance of collection, preparation and handling of different sample types. Information about the cores’ expertise and accessibility will also be presented.

The remainder of the morning and the early part of the afternoon will provide more detailed and advanced information on how to investigate specific areas of antigen-specific B and T-cell responses. We will achieve this goal by hosting a breakout group for each cellular subset with a Q&A session.

Lastly, we will dedicate the balance of the afternoon to introduce the utilization of FlowJo software for data analysis.

Registration will be limited to the first 42 registrants. Register by Friday, January 13th.

Learn more and register for the workshop.

UCSF-Bay Area CFAR Summer 2023 Visiting Professor Opportunity

The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies in collaboration with the UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is now accepting applications for the Visiting Professor Program. We are planning an in-person program hosted in San Francisco from Monday, June 12 through Thursday, July 20, 2023. 

This year we have two tracks to offer to program participants, funded by NIDA and NIAID. With the support from multiple institutes, the program is suitable to scientists with a broad range of research interests. While NIMH continues to support the VP program, we are not recruiting scientists for the NIMH- sponsored track this year. 

Tracks for the 2023 Visiting Professor program

Track 1 (Funded by NIAID): The integration of state-of-the-art biomedical, social/behavioral, and clinical HIV science with implications for alleviating HIV-related health inequities in US-based racial and ethnic minority populations

Co-Directors: Mallory Johnson and Monica Gandhi

Track 2 (Funded by NIDA): Interdisciplinary clinical social/behavioral research to reduce health disparities at the intersection of HIV and substance use in US-based racial and ethnic minority populations

Co-Directors: Tor Neilands and James Sorensen

This program is designed to assist investigators interested in conducting HIV-related research that has implications for U.S. racial and ethnic minority communities to strengthen the investigators’ programs of research and obtain NIH funding. Scientists in the program have access to the expertise of a team of mentors who are successful at conducting NIH-funded research that impacts HIV-related health disparities in racial and ethnic minority communities. The program seminars aim to help Visiting Professors succeed in navigating research careers and writing NIH grants.

Program participants take part in the six-week summer program at UCSF for three consecutive summers, with mentoring and distance learning year-round. Participants are appointed and paid as Visiting Professors in the UCSF Department of Medicine during the summer program, and also receive $20,000 to support a pilot study to facilitate the completion of an R-level grant application. The first summer is particularly productive since each Visiting Professor prepares both a detailed plan for implementing their $20,000 pilot study and a full NIH grant proposal.

Please forward this message to anyone who may be interested in applying, as well as groups that you are active with. We strongly encourage interested scholars to contact program staff and faculty to learn more about the Visiting Professor program. For more information about the program, please visit the website.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 8:00 am Pacific Time. The application is available online.

Learn more and apply.

Apply to become a fellow of the NIDA-funded HIV and Drug Abuse Prevention Research Ethics Training Institute

The Fordham HIV and Drug Abuse Prevention Research Ethics Training Institute (RETI) offers ethics training and a $30,000 small grant award to conduct a mentored research project (MRP) that will contribute to evidence-based HIV and drug abuse research ethics policies and procedures. RETI fellows make a 2-year commitment that includes two in-person summer programs in 2022 and 2023 including fully funded travel, lodging, and meals.



The SBS Core is available to help brainstorm ideas and provide a peer review of an application.

Applications are due February 15, 2023.

Learn more and apply for the institute.

Registration open for Statistics Workshop - Quantitative Methods for HIV Researchers

Thursdays in January & February 2023 | 9am-12pm ET | Hock Plaza

Registration is now open for Statistics Workshops, Part II of the 3-part series of FREE workshops designed to provide HIV researchers with the quantitative skills necessary for analysis of large, complex data sets resulting from assays such as single-cell RNA-seq, flow cytometry, fMRI, etc. Each part of the series consists of 6 once-a-week workshops held on Thursdays from 9AM - Noon. The workshops will be taught in person at Hock Plaza (parking is available). These NIH-funded workshops are open to graduate students, postdocs, medical fellows, staff and faculty. Non-Duke-affiliated applicants are welcome. Completion of Part I-Data Science Workshops or prior knowledge/ competency in R is required to attend.

In Part II of this workshop series, attendees will learn important concepts in statistics and perform statistical analyses using real HIV data. We will introduce different types of clinical research studies, perform exploratory data analysis with numerical and graphical summaries and introduce hypothesis testing, and appropriate methods for modeling different types of outcomes.

In Part III of this workshop series, attendees will learn skills for analysis of large, complex data sets resulting from assays. Registration for these workshops will open in January 2023.

Register for Part II: Statistics Workshops by Monday, January 9th.

PART II: Statistics Workshops (must commit to attend all 6 sessions)

• Breakdown of an Experiment - 1/19/2023
• Probability, Distributions, and Confidence Intervals - 1/26/2023
• Hypothesis Testing and Power/Sample Size - 2/1/2023
• Paired and Categorical Data Approaches - 2/9/2023
• Regression, Survival, and Longitudinal Models - 2/16/2023
• Bring Your Own Project / High-level Consulting - 2/23/2023

PART III: Assays Workshops registration will open in Jan 2023

Learn more and register for the workshops.

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