The Duke Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is part of a network of NIH-funded CFARs across the nation. The principal mission of the Duke CFAR is to provide scientific leadership as well as establish, enrich, and provide continued infrastructure support to an academic research environment that will effectively promote collaboration and coordination among the community of HIV/AIDS investigators at Duke. Learn more about the services and support available to researchers at Duke through our scientific Cores.
2024 Duke CFAR Fall Scientific Retreat Recap
On September 19, 2024, the 20th Annual Duke CFAR Fall Scientific Retreat took place at the Trent Semans Center for Health Education. The event brought together nearly 200 researchers, clinicians, and community members to discuss recent advancements in HIV/AIDS research and spark ideas and collaboration. In an effort to foster an inclusive and engaging atmosphere, the day included a variety of presentation formats, and speakers were encouraged to use plain language to reach an interdisciplinary audience. We thank all who joined us and especially those who worked hard to plan and carry out a successful and inspiring retreat!
2024 Interns Share Their Thoughts
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
Congratulations to the 2024 CFAR Pilot Awardees
The CFAR Developmental Core provides resources and services to CFAR members to enhance career development in basic, clinical, or social and behavioral sciences. Resources and services provided by the Developmental Core include funding for small grants to assist CFAR members in the generation of preliminary data to support grant proposals submitted to external funding agencies. The CFAR Developmental Core Pilot Awards support scientific studies for 1 year.
Duke CFAR at AIDS 2024
Duke CFAR colleagues met up in Munich, Germany at AIDS 2024 throughout the week and at a Duke CFAR and Duke HIV Global Initiative mixer attended by Sheron Lewin (IAS president) and several colleagues.
Poster presenters included: Dana Chow; Mehri McKellar, Charlie Burns, & Justin Frye; Lance Okeke & Meredith Clement; Kelly Seaton; Valerie Yelverton, and Roberto Orellana (presenting on behalf of Dirk Davis). Philippe Rascale participated in the ANRS MIE-DZIF HIV Cure satellite.
Remembering Kawango Agot
The Duke CFAR is saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Kawango Agot, a visionary leader and HIV prevention researcher. Dr. Agot founded and led the Impact Research and Development Organization, contributing over 20 years to biomedical, epidemiological, and behavioral research. Her work, including nearly 60 research studies and numerous programs, significantly influenced HIV prevention policies in Kenya and especially the lives of adolescent girls and young women.
Duke CFAR researchers highlight the existential threat of climate change
The Duke CFAR has been leading discussions to shed light on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on people living with HIV, nations in the Global South, and individuals with minoritized identifies. CFAR investigators have recently come together with others from across Duke (including the Nicholas School of the Environment, Pratt School of Engineering, and Duke Global Health Institute) and in the community (including collaborating with Dr. Chris Hawn of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network), to publish articles and commentaries shedding light on this important and dire topic.
D3C Chair Eugenia Rogers selected for NMAC 2024 HIV 50+ Strong & Healthy Cohort
Each year, NMAC ensures that those selected represent the communities most impacted by the HIV epidemic. This year’s HIV 50+ cohort is comprised of older adults living with HIV and who have a demonstrated record of advocating for PLWH over the age of 50 and/or other Long-Term Survivors. As always, the cohort is made up of a mix of returning 50+ Scholars (38%) and new Scholars (62%).
The Duke CFAR is excited that our Duke Collaborative Community Council (D3C) Chair Eugenia Rogers was selected for this year's cohort.
From Nairobi to Duke: How Soccer Helps Researcher Build Bridges in Global Health
Growing up in Kenya, Charles Muiruri honed his skills on the soccer pitch in hopes of pursuing a professional soccer career. Yet, it was his eventual arrival in North Carolina that marked a pivotal chapter in his life's story to become a population health professor and researcher at the Duke Global Health Institute who is revolutionizing health care for those living with HIV and chronic health conditions.
You can read the story written by Anton Zuiker on the Magnify website
LaTonya Williams and Justin Pollara receive awards at 2024 HVTN Full Group Meeting
The 2024 Full Group Meeting of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) took place May 1-3, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Every year at the Full Group Meeting (FGM), HVTN Leadership presents awards to recognize clinical site staff and affiliated individuals who have made significant contributions to the Network.
LaTonya Williams, PhD received the 2024 HVTN Bonnie Mathieson Young Investigator Award for her outstanding publication and discovery of how vaccines can tune antibody specificities. Justin Pollara, PhD received an award in recognition of his exceptional scientific communication skills and commitment to using people-first language.
Duke CFAR researchers deliver quantitative and qualitative methods workshops in Vietnam
In March 2024, the Duke Center for AIDS Research’s Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Core and Quantitative Sciences (QS) Core, in collaboration with the Clinical Core, organized two workshops held at the Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Each workshop provided training for 30-45 Vietnamese post-graduate trainees in health sciences from surrounding medical universities and affiliated hospitals across Vietnam.
Congratulations to recently awarded Distinguished Professors from the Duke CFAR!
Duke University has awarded distinguished professorships to 32 faculty and will recognize them in a ceremony at the Washington Duke Inn on May 23.
“I am very pleased to honor these faculty members with distinguished professorships,” said President Vincent Price. “Their outstanding scholarship has advanced knowledge across a wide variety of fields and made a positive impact on society, and I am proud to have them as colleagues.”
Duke CFAR presents at CROI 2024
The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) was established in 1993 to provide a forum for basic scientists and clinical investigators to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and associated diseases. The synergy of basic science and clinical investigation has been a major contributor to the success of the meeting. CROI has facilitated the presentation of important discoveries in the field, thereby accelerating progress in HIV and AIDS research.
SBS Core Researchers Network with UNC CFAR to Untangle The Quagmire of Stigma
The NIH recognizes that “despite HIV scientific advances, stigma and discrimination continue to be critical barriers to the uptake of evidence-based HIV interventions.” HIV-related stigma research, in addition to being an NIH priority, is a topic of concern and interest for many of our CFAR investigators and for the community members who make up our Duke Collaborative Community Council (D3C).
Commemorating World AIDS Day 2023
Every year on December 1st, the world unites to commemorate World AIDS Day. This annual event serves as a reminder of the global struggle to end HIV-related stigma, an opportunity to honor those we have lost, and a rallying cry to continue working toward a day when HIV is no longer a public health threat. 2023 marked the 35th commemoration of this important day.
