Penn Center for AIDS Research

Overall Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The Penn CFAR provides dynamic scientific leadership, organizational structure, resources, & infrastructure to advance AIDS research across the integrated campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) & the Wistar Institute. The CFAR catalyzes cutting-edge science & adds value to the Penn/CHOP/Wistar research enterprise through activities that could not be achieved by individual investigators or projects. The Center is comprised of >150 members from our 3 institutions, including 9 of the 12 Penn schools & 21 of 29 departments within the School of Medicine. CFAR success in the last 5 years is reflected in $217M in NIH AIDS funding over that time, key discoveries in AIDS priority areas including HIV reservoirs/cure, vaccine, immune function, prevention, engagement and implementation, comorbidities & other areas. The CFAR’s proactive outreach & engagement has drawn new investigators from disparate fields across campus to HIV/AIDS research; attracted 38 AIDS investigators newly appointed to faculty; established a vibrant partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health; advanced research & capacity-building with the University of Botswana; broadened the scientific expertise within the trainee, faculty & research leadership communities; and begun a new initiative with regional HBCU Lincoln University. A comprehensive strategic planning process over the past year has led us to refine CFAR priorities, Cores, SWGs & leadership to address emerging themes, leverage new expertise, cultivate new research leaders, & maintain a cutting-edge focus. We are evolving our highly successful Implementation Science SWG into a new IS Core, establishing an innovative SWG focused on “HIV Communication & Policy Research”, & refining the focus of our reservoirs SWG to “Single Cell Reservoirs & Immunology”. Looking ahead, the CFAR will support a Developmental Core & 7 refined & revised Shared Resource Cores (Clinical, Virus & Reservoirs Technology, Molecular & Translational Immunotechnology, Community Research & Engagement, Biostatistics & Data Science, Implementation Science, & International) providing essential support for its research mission. To address the opportunities & challenges of the next 5 years, the CFAR has 4 highly inter-linked Specific Aims: (1) Provide scientific & administrative leadership & pilot funding to catalyze innovative, interdisciplinary research that will lead to new knowledge & solutions for the AIDS crisis; (2) Attract, train, mentor & support the next generation of AIDS researchers to ensure scientific progress, draw non-AIDS investigators into the field with cross-cutting expertise, launch next generation research leaders, and expand the range of expertise in AIDS research & leadership; (3) Support, monitor & continually evolve a set of efficient, dynamic & innovative Cores that both support AIDS investigators & lead the research agenda through development & dissemination of innovative technology that transforms scientific capacity, &; (4) Advance science & synergy through intra-campus, local, national & international partnerships, community engagement, & capacity building.