The University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research

UNC CFAR Overall Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section The UNC Center for AIDS Research is a consortium of two interactive and local institutions: UNC Chapel Hill (UNC) and Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). This consortium of interactive research communities has existed since the CFAR was formed in 1998. The UNC CFAR is notable for the breadth of research activity, the high level of excellence of its member researchers, and the importance of its domestic and international partners in fighting the HIV epidemic. The CFAR consists of 8 cores (Administration, Developmental, Clinical, Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry, Biostatistics, Social and Behavioral Science, International, and Advanced Technology Laboratory), and within the Administrative Core the Office of Community Engagement (OCE). In addition, the CFAR supports one Scientific Working Group: Carolinas United to End HIV (CUE-HIV), partnering with the NC state health leaders; and three Research Interest Groups (RIGs):, Technology and Engagement, Societal Attitudes and HIV and AI Research. The CUE-HIV SWG is an inter-state (North and South Carolina) and inter-institute partnership that represents a unique approach to bring together partners in jurisdictions where there is no CFAR to answer the Federal Government’s call to End the HIV Epidemic. The CFAR is focused on supporting research in the important targeted areas of: 1) Ending the HIV Epidemic 2) Cure/Eradication 3) Co-morbidities, Co-Infections and Complications 4) Prevention (including TasP and combination prevention) 5) Antiretroviral treatment and pharmacology 6) HIV and Cancer 7) HIV and populations at risk 8) HIV and the Brain and 9) Behavioral and Social Sciences research to help address disparities. The CFAR has strong institutional support, which greatly enhances our capacity to support the wide range of research activities of our membership. Due to ongoing institutional support, the efforts of our membership, the hiring of new faculty, and the work and investments of the CFAR, we have seen steady growth in the research enterprise. CFAR members hold important positions of leadership within the two CFAR collaborating institutions and across the NIH networks. Thus, the UNC CFAR represents a critical component of a strong, growing, and dynamic consortium of researchers who are collectively working to change the course of the HIV epidemic.