School of Medicine and Dentistry

School of Nursing

• About
• Core Services
• Education & Training
• Funding Opportunities
• Behavioral Research
• South Africa
• News/Events

• Libraries
• Departments & Centers
• URMC Home

URMC » Dcfar

A- A A+ Email this page

• D-CFAR Organization
• Events & Seminars
• Contact D-CFAR
• Leadership & NIH-Funded Research Base

Introduction

The strategic planning process for the University of Rochester (UR)’s D-CFAR identified areas of strength, opportunity and relative weakness in the UR’s HIV/AIDS research portfolio.  Strengths include basic and clinical research in translational immunology and vaccine development, antiretroviral therapy and virology, neuroAIDS and opportunistic infections. These strengths are exemplified by major NIH awards such as the HIV Clinical Trials Unit award, the Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program in novel therapies for neuroAIDS and the P01 award on Pneumocystis carinii.

The strategic planning process also identified opportunities in the areas of mathematical modeling, prevention/behavior research, and Optics and Nanomedicine. In the area of mathematical modeling, we have notable strength in modeling of RNA structures, virus fitness/replication and immune responses, and clinical trial outcomes.  This leads to opportunities for additional cross-disciplinary interactions. In prevention/behavior research, we have a small nucleus of NIH funded investigators working on HIV/AIDS as well as a large cohort of investigators who have research interests that align closely with those of the D-CFAR (they focus on substance abuse, interpersonal violence and STDs). We expect to be able "recruit" this cadre of investigators to HIV/AIDS research over the next 5 years, with the support of this D-CFAR. In the area of Optics and Nanomedicine, the close physical proximity between the Medical Center and undergraduate campuses of UR provides for collaborative opportunities that are not available at most of our peer institutions (due to the dispersed nature of their campus structures).  We will therefore also focus on the UR’s world-class programs in Optics and Nanomedicine, where we expect a catalytic investment of resources to result in outstanding new HIV/AIDS research.

Finally, the planning process also identified a relative weakness in the area of international collaborations.  The UR has nascent interactions with partners in South Africa, which we propose to enhance with support from this D-CFAR. The goal of this effort will be to build up a robust, long-term partnership that will offer mutual value to both UR D-CFAR faculty and their South African colleagues.

Mission

The primary mission of the University of Rochester (UR) Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) is to raise the overall quality and quantity of HIV/AIDS research at the UR.  This mission will be ach ieved by:

• providing an administrative structure that is flexible and responsive to faculty needs, and that makes HIV/AIDS research a major institutional focus;
• providing outstanding clinical and basic core facilities needed by our investigators;
• capitalizing on strategically chosen research opportunities at the UR;
• developing new lines of collaborative research, including interactions with South African colleagues; and
• enhancing faculty mentoring, career development and recruitment.

D-CFAR and University of Rochester

The UR has a long and distinguished track-record in HIV/AIDS research, dating back to the earliest days of the epidemic. 

UR was a founding member of both the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), or their preceding organizations, and has a proud tradition of vaccine research.

The Medical Center's Strategic Plan devotes considerable new resources in five selected focus areas of institutional research strength - one of which is Infectious Diseases and Immunology (including HIV/AIDS). 

T he international collaborative aspects of the D-CFAR, and the opportunity to forge closer ties with two leading Universities in South Africa (University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg/Soweto and University of Cape Town) also presents a very exciting opportunity.  The opportunity to work closely with outstanding leaders in HIV/AIDS research at these sites will greatly enhance international research collaborations at the UR.