Duke CFAR Newsletter - August 16, 2023
In this newsletter:
News from the CFAR
Upcoming Events
Funding Opportunities
| |
August 20th is Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | |
|
Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (SHAAD) is August 20. Founded by the Southern AIDS Coalition, SHAAD is a day that individuals, communities, and organizations can unite to call attention to the disproportionate number of people living with HIV in the South. SHAAD is an opportunity to provide people in the South with HIV testing and linkage to HIV medical care if necessary, education on HIV prevention, including ways to stop HIV stigma, and other HIV-related care resources.
The South experiences a higher burden of HIV compared to other regions across the country, especially among communities of color. Black Americans in the South represented half of all new HIV diagnoses in the region in 2020, despite comprising only 19% of the Southern population. The South accounted for 38% of PrEP users in 2022 but only 21% of Black PrEP users. Take a deeper look into HIV in the U.S. South.
| |
2023 Quantitative Methods for HIV Researchers Summer Interns reflect on the summer - Part 2 | |
As part of a five-year NIAID R25 research education grant to deliver training in quantitative methods for HIV/AIDS research, the Quantitative Methods for HIV Researchers Summer Internship program provides mentoring and research experiences in HIV/AIDS for Masters or PhD students from quantitative disciplines such as statistics, biostatistics, data science, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The internship runs for 12 weeks during summer term and is designed to engage quantitative trainees in real-world HIV/AIDS research, providing the opportunity to conduct research in leading HIV/AIDS laboratories, co-mentored by both an HIV/AIDS researcher and quantitative science faculty. The program is popular — in 2023, we received over 50 applications. This summer, thirteen interns were paired with a Duke CFAR PI and Quantitative Mentor to support an ongoing research project.
We asked a few interns to share their experiences and reflect on the summer. Last week's newsletter featured two of the interns. Meet two more!
| |
|
Justin Liu
Master of Biostatistics Program, Duke University
PI: Guido Ferrari
Quantitative Mentor: Janice McCarthy
What was the project you worked on for your internship?
My project focused on evaluating the antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) function of a list of target antibodies in killing different HIV-1 viral strains and investigating optimal combinations of these antibodies based on the analysis of ADCC to assist the development of potential HIV-1 immunotherapies.
What were your training goals coming into the summer program?
The primary goals for me to join the CFAR summer internship is to learn about HIV and the general human immune system, as well as to gain experience of working closely with a PI and a quantitative mentor to solve real-world problems related to HIV/AIDS.
What do you hope to do in the future?
After this internship ends, I wish to apply for a Ph.D. program related to medical science while finishing the second year of my current Master’s program.
What was your favorite part of the summer internship?
My favorite part of the internship was that I gained abundant experience in how to clearly express my ideas to different target audience in a research environment, both from discussing the research goals with my PI and mentor and presenting my research progress to my colleagues throughout the internship.
What is your favorite thing about summer?
My favorite part about this summer is the opportunity to work with my PI Dr. Ferrari and mentor Dr. McCarthy. Besides research, I also improved my basketball skills in my free time.
| | | |
|
Song Young Oh
Master's in Interdisciplinary Data Science (MIDS), Duke University
PI: Justin Pollara
Quantitative Mentor: Cliburn Chan
What was the project you worked on for your internship?
My project was about identifying associations between individuals' genetic characteristics and their immune responses following HIV vaccination. I performed various exploratory data analysis and statistical testing to achieve these insights, which made the experience incredibly enjoyable.
What were your training goals coming into the summer program?
My primary objective for joining this summer program was to cultivate a strong researcher mindset and successfully lead a project. Additionally, I aimed to enhance my statistical knowledge and familiarize myself with new types of data.
What do you hope to do in the future?
In the future, I aspire to become a proficient data scientist, equipped with diverse quantitative methods and skillsets to address real-world challenges.
What was your favorite part of the summer internship?
The most rewarding aspect of this internship was the close interaction I had with my PI and quantitative mentor through regular weekly meetings. Learning from these experienced professionals, especially in areas where my biological knowledge was lacking, was truly invaluable.
What is your favorite thing about summer?
Regarding summer in general, I appreciate the opportunity to have a distinct kind of enjoyment compared to the semester. It allows me to explore different parts of the country while cherishing relaxed moments with friends.
| | | |
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.
| |
Registration Coming Soon for the CFAR Fall Retreat | |
The 2023 CFAR Fall Scientific Retreat will be held on Thursday, September 14th in the Great Hall of the Trent Semans Center. Stay tuned for an agenda and registration link coming soon! | |
|
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.
| |
|
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 3rd workshop are found here.
We are also hosting the 2nd annual Inter-CFAR Meeting for CFAR-affiliated Underrepresented Minorities in HIV Research on the Monday of that week (October 23rd). 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
There will be limited travel and lodging scholarships available to support airfare/hotel for selected applicants based on need. Potential participants interested in applying for the travel scholarship must have involvement in HIV research. Please register for the scholarship as indicated on the Registration Form by August 28, 2023. Investigators interested in applying for a travel and lodging scholarship should attach their CV along with a cover letter indicating your interest in the workshop and your interest in the mentoring training to their application. Any questions can be sent to Joseph Watabe at joseph.watabe@ucsf.edu.
Learn more about the workshop.
| |
Recording available: Inter-CFAR Antiretrovirals for Prevention Working Group Webinar: Building Clinical Workforce Capacity to Deliver PrEP | |
|
Implementation Science Funding Opportunity
Precision HIV Health: Integrating Data and Implementation Science to Accelerate HIV Prevention and Treatment (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-MH-24-100
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages participatory data science and implementation science research to accelerate the implementation of more targeted and sustainable HIV interventions with the goals of (1) using data science methods to model complex systems, including social and structural determinants of health, to identify more targeted HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions and implementation strategies; (2) using novel measurement approaches and modern statistical methods to evaluate the implementation of data-driven discoveries; (3) integrating meaningful engagement of community and implementing partners at every stage of the research.
This NOFO will use the NIH Phased Innovation Award (R21/R33) mechanism to provide up to 2 years of R21 support to engage interested/affected parties in the model design, development, testing, and model simulation and up to 3 years of R33 support for expanded activities for translation, implementation, evaluation, and assessment of the model. Transition to the R33 phase is not guaranteed for all grants awarded under this NOFO. Continuation from the R21 phase to the R33 phase will be determined by the NIMH based on progress achieved in the R21 phase and other factors such as program priorities and availability of funds.
| |
|
NCBiotech Event and Meeting Grants
NCBiotech's event and meeting grants support North Carolina-based events and meetings that bring information and networking opportunities on diverse topics to the life sciences community statewide.
- Biotechnology Event Sponsorships (BES) provide up to $3,000 to support life sciences-focused events held primarily for a North Carolina audience.
- Biotechnology Meeting Grants (BMG) support national and international life sciences-focused meetings held in North Carolina and offer up to $10,000.
Funds can be requested for in-person, virtual, or hybrid events. Any North Carolina university or non-profit organization (with its own independent tax ID number or EIN) may apply.
Learn more about the opportunity.
| |
Have a new member of your team? Were you forwarded this newsletter and want to sign up yourself? Please use and share this link to join the CFAR and receive all CFAR information and news. | | | | |
