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Clinical Science Core (Core C)

The Clinical Sciences Core is the focal point of all D-CFAR clinical and translational research activities.  Its goal is to provide expertise and services to facilitate the design, implementation and conduct of HIV/AIDS clinical trials by D-CFAR investigators.

The Core is directed by Dr. Michael Keefer and provides support for clinical and translational research by via a “Protocol Team Service” that draws on the 20 year experience of the major UR HIV/AIDS clinical research programs.  While fiscal restraints obviously limit the extent to which a “network-like” support structure can be established, our extensive expertise allow us to proceed in a step-wise fashion to provide an ‘investigator-centered’ service that addresses the most pressing needs that clinical researchers face as they design, implement and conduct their studies.  The “Protocol Team Service” also leverages other expertise within the D-CFAR and the UR institution as a whole to present a coordinated menu of services that the program’s D-CFAR investigators can access. Intellectual assistance is provided through a “protocol design” service, and laboratory assays provided in collaboration with the Virology/Immunology Core. 

A second area of focus for Core C is the creation of a “Biostatistical Service” designed to meet investigator needs that were identified during the strategic planning process for this D-CFAR application (including the needs of international partners in South Africa). 

The third area of emphasis is “Specialized Services” - notably biomathematical modeling (which is a major institutional strength at UR) and clinical pharmacology services. 

Finally, the activities and services of the Clinical Science Core are designed to build upon the growing collaboration that the UR is nurturing with successful research colleagues in South Africa. Dr. Keefer’s current close working relationship with Dr. Glenda Gray (U-Witwatersrand [UW] / Perinatal HIV Research Centre [PHRU]) and Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker (U-Cape Town [UCT] / Desmond Tutu HIV Centre [DTHC]) through HVTN operations forms the foundation of the collaboration. It is our goal for the UR-South African collaboration to evolve into a broad-based inter-institutional collaboration in years to come.