February 19, 2007

• A. CIRA SPONSORED AIDS SEMINARS
• B. CIRA MEETINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
• C. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. CIRA SPONSORED AIDS SEMINARS

1. THIS WEEK! YACS @ CIRA Seminar Series
   02/22/07, 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. (Brown bag lunch. Cookies and beverages provided.)
   Title: "Rapid Policy Assessment in Four Countries of the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe: What Have we learned so far about drug policy, policing and HIV prevention?"
   Speaker(s): Zita Lazzarini, J.D., M.P.H., Division Director and Associate Professor, Division of Medical Humanities, Health Law and Ethics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine
   Sponsor(s): CIRA, Institution for Social and Policy Studies and the Yale School of Public Health's Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
   Location: LEPH Room 608, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT
   Contact: Please RSVP to elizabeth.eocaci@yale.edu. For more information or directions, please call 764-4333, email leif.mitchell@yale.edu or visit the YACS@CIRA Web site: http://cira.med.yale.edu/events/yacs.html
2. THIS WEEK! Research in Progress Seminar Series
   02/23/07, 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
   Title: "Ethical issues in Antiretroviral Rolling-out Treatment in Resource-Poor Countries: Challenges and Response"
   Speaker(s): Wenyuan Yin, M.D., International Trainee
   Sponsor(s): Office of International Training (OIT)
   Location: OIT Conference Room, Ste # 3D, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
   
3. Research in Progress Seminar Series
   03/02/07, 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
   Title: "The Role of Community Organizing in HIV/AIDS Prevention Among Injection Drug Users in Saint-Petersburg, Russia"
   Speaker(s): Roman Skochilov, Ph.D., International Trainee
   Sponsor(s): Office of International Training (OIT)
   Location: OIT Conference Room, Ste # 3D, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
   
4. NEW! YACS @ CIRA Seminar Series
   03/08/07, 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. (Lunch included)
   Title: "Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Risk for HIV: Findings from Studies with Heterosexual Women, Men and Youth"
   Speaker(s): Anita Raj, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health
   Sponsor(s): CIRA and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies
   Location: CIRA, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
   Contact: Please RSVP to elizabeth.eocaci@yale.edu. For more information or directions, please call 764-4333, email leif.mitchell@yale.edu or visit the YACS@CIRA Web site: http://cira.med.yale.edu/events/yacs.html
5. NEW! Research in Progress Seminar Series
   03/09/07, 1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
   Title: TBA
   Speaker(s): Maxim Ostapenko, LLB, International Trainee
   Sponsor(s): Office of International Training (OIT)
   Location: OIT Conference Room, Ste # 3D, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
   

B. CIRA MEETINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Peer Review
   02/26/07, 2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
   Location: OIT Conf. Rm., Ste # 3D, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
   NOTE: Materials for peer review must be submitted one week in advance of the peer review meeting. If you would like to have a manuscript reviewed, please contact Debra Tompkins (debra.tompkins@yale.edu). If you would like to have a proposal reviewed as part of the process of affiliating your research project with CIRA, please contact Kim Blankenship (kim.blankenship@yale.edu). We encourage you to have your proposal reviewed early in its development. The purpose of peer review is to enhance the quality of proposals and publications from CIRA scientists by allowing them to benefit from the Center’s expertise. The spirit of CIRA's peer review program is one of collegiality and respect; it is meant to be constructive rather than evaluative. Investigators use the feedback they receive as they see fit.
2. Law, Policy and Ethics (LPE) Core Meeting
   03/02/07, 11:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
   Location: CIRA, Ste # 1B, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
3. NEW! Community Research (CR) Core Meeting
   03/07/07, 9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA, Ste # 1B, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
4. NEW! Executive Committee Meeting
   03/08/07, 10:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
   Location: CIRA, Ste # 1B, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
5. NEW! Interdisciplinary Research Methods (IRM) Core Meeting
   03/09/07, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA, Ste # 1B, 40 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
6. NEW! RFA! Innovative Pilot Projects In Priority Areas of HIV/AIDS Prevention Research sponsored by CIRA. The concept paper is due by 3/16/07.
   
   The purpose of this RFA is to stimulate innovative research in two specific priority areas:
   
   
   1. Structural interventions to enhance recent advances in HIV prevention and treatment. Advances that would be considered under this priority area include: expansion of ARV treatment in resource poor countries, pre-exposure ARV prophylaxis (PREP), detection of and response to acute HIV infection, microbicides, acyclovir treatment of HSV-2 infection, circumcision, and early or rapid detection of HIV infection. Research under this priority area may consist of studies of the impact of structural interventions (e.g. policies, the organization of health service systems, community mobilization) to promote these recent advances, as well as studies aimed at identifying the structural factors that may hinder or facilitate their promotion.
   2. Prevention for HIV positives, with a focus on detection and management of comorbid conditions, such as mental health disorders, substance use (including alcohol and prescription drugs), tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, etc. Research under this priority area may include descriptive studies, studies to identify facilitators of and barriers to successful prevention, formative research in preparation for intervention studies, and pilot intervention studies.
   CIRA has $40,000 available to fund one or two projects, with a maximum award of $25,000. Funding will be provided for up to one year, with the expectation that research results will serve as the basis for an investigator-initiated grant application to an external funding agency. All investigators are eligible to apply, irrespective of their seniority or previous HIV research experience. However, we especially encourage proposals from junior investigators, women, and underrepresented minorities. We welcome proposals for projects undertaken in either domestic or international settings.
   
   Contact: For full information about the application process please go to http://cira.med.yale.edu/opportunities/pilotrfa_pas.html.

C. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. NEW! THIS WEEK! The 13th Annual Rebellious Lawyering Conference
   02/23/07 - 02/25/07
   The Rebellious Lawyering Conference is an annual, student-run conference that brings together practitioners, law students, and community activists / advocates from around the country to discuss innovative, progressive approaches to law and social change.
   Sponsor(s): Yale Law School
   Location: Yale Law School, 127 Wall Street, New Haven, CT
   Contact: For more information please visit the Web site: http://islandia.law.yale.edu/reblaw/index.html.
2. NEW! Working Research Group: "Addiction, Mental Health, and HIV/AIDS" Topic: "Project Prevention"
   02/27/07, 11:30 A.M. (RSVP by replying to this email)
   Speaker(s): Kevin S. Irwin, M.A., Research Associate, Yale School of Public Health, CIRA
   Sponsor(s): Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics
   Location: Conference Room, 87 Trumbull Street, New Haven, CT
   Contact: For more information or to RSVP, please contact jonathan.moser@yale.edu.
3. NEW! CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! Crossroads II: Community-Based Collaborative Research for Social Justice International Conference
   Deadline for proposal submission is March 15, 2007. Conference is 6/7/07-6/9/07
   
   Crossroads II: Community-Based Collaborative Research for Social Justice will focus on the promise, pitfalls, and "best practices" of CBCR to address disparities and inequities in the arenas of health, education, artistic and cultural representation, development, and the environment. Successful CBCR relies on different perspectives to look critically at the ways in which the research is - and can be - used to promote social justice in communities worldwide. We invite you to join an interdisciplinary network of people who are interested in the use of CBCR to reduce social inequities in their communities. We encourage submissions from researchers, community partners, artists, activists, service providers, health professionals, educators, students, policymakers, funders and others who address CBCR and social justice issues. We anticipate that participants will present project-based case studies, share innovative community action based on research and community input, and offer critical reflection pertaining to the overall conference theme.
   Sponsor(s): The Institute for Community Research and co-sponsored by CIRA
   Location: Hartford, CT
   Contact: For complete information please go to the Conference Web site.
4. THIS WEEK! Community-Based Prevention Research: "Physical Activity Programs for Breast Cancer Survivors"
   02/21/07, 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. (afternoon snack will be provided)
   Community-based collaboration is essential for the successful conduct of research. To make a difference in the most pressing issues of public health affecting our community today, partnership is required to identify health problems, understand the causes and consequences of illness, and ultimately develop solutions to enhance health. This new series will explore community-based research from multiple perspectives, using an innovative "panel" format: academic-based researcher, community partner, and study participants.
   Participants: Melinda Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Yale School of Public Health, Ken Miller, M.D., Y.N.H.H. Oncologist and Director of the CT, Challenge Survivorship Clinic at Yale Cancer Center, Eileen Mierzejewski, M.S., Project Manager, YES, Lisa Cadmus, Ph.D. candidate, Project Manager, IMPACT, Jane Marron, YES Study Participant, Carol Wiske, IMPACT Study Participant
   Location: Room 608, 60 College St., New Haven, CT
   
5. "New Considerations in Community-Based, Culturally Congruent, HIV and Trauma Interventions for HIV Positive Women and Men"
   03/02/07, 10:15 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
   Speaker: Gail E. Wyatt, Ph.D.; Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior; Director, UCLA Sexual Health Program; Director, Center for Trauma and Mental Health Disparities; Associate Director, UCLA AIDS Institute; Clinical Psychologist; Sex Therapist
   Sponsor: Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Prevention and Community Research
   Location: Connecticut Mental Health Center Auditorium, 34 Park St., New Haven, CT
6. NEW! "Pain Management, Addiction & HIV"
   03/08/07, 9:30 A.M - 11:00 A.M. (Registration is at 9:00 A.M.)
   Speaker(s): R. Doug Bruce, M.D., Yale University School of Medicine AIDS Program; Medical Director, South Central Rehabilitation Center
   Sponsor(s): CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC)
   Location: Yale School of Nursing, 100 Church St. South, New Haven CT, New Lecture Hall on the 2nd floor (blue awning entrance). Stop by the YSN Reception Desk for directions. Free parking, refreshments will be served.
   Contact: Please RSVP by 3/5/07 to Betsy at (203) 737-2312 or email caetc@yale.edu.
7. NEW! Greater New Haven HIV/AIDS Clinical Series "14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections-Clinical Update"
   03/08/07, 12:00 P.M - 1:00 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   Speaker(s): Michael Kozal, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Yale University; Director of the VA HIV Clinic & HIV Virology Research Laboratory and Kevin D. Dieckhaus, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Connecticut; Medical Director of the CT AIDS Education and Training Center
   Sponsor(s): CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC) and The Yale AIDS Program
   Location: 3rd Floor Conference Room, 135 College Street, New Haven CT
   Contact: Please RSVP by 3/5/07 to Betsy at (203) 737-2312 or email caetc@yale.edu.
8. NEW! Waterbury HIV Educational Series "14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections-Clinical Update"
   03/08/07, 3:00 P.M. (Refreshments provided by Boehringer Ingelheim)
   Speaker(s): Kevin D. Dieckhaus, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Connecticut; Medical Director of the CT AIDS Education and Training Center
   Sponsor(s): CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC) and the Waterbury Hospital Infectious Disease Clinic
   Location: Waterbury Hospital Infectious Disease Clinic, L-06 Conference Room, 140 Grandview Avenue, Waterbury, CT
   Contact: Please RSVP by March 6, 2007: CAETC@yale.edu or (203) 737-2312.
9. The Bridgeport Community HIV Forum - "Crystal Meth and HIV"
   03/28/07, 12:30 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   Speaker(s): Gloria Searson, Advocacy Relations Manager, Manhattan & New England
   Sponsor(s): CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC) and the Evergreen Network
   Location: First Baptist Church, Brown Room, 126 Washington Ave., Bridgeport, CT
   Contact: You must RSVP to be assured lunch: CAETC@yale.edu or (203) 737-2312 or to the Evergreen Network at 203-576-0677
10. Arts and Public Health in Action: Study of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland
    Yale Summer Session class offered in Swaziland. Application deadline: April 2
    Faculty: Rebecca Rugg and Kaveh Khoshnood
    Theater practice and Epidemiology come together in partnership to provide a vital, hands-on intervention into the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. We will travel to Swaziland to collaborate with local artists who are using theater as a mode of discourse in the fight against HIV/AIDS; under the guidance of master teacher Ntare Mwine we will conduct theater workshops with local secondary school students; we will work in the field with local NGOs. Over five weeks, this practical work will amplify and deepen our classroom study of theater as a mode of social and political intervention and of major topics on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the final week of the course, we will travel to the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa, where students will synthesize their learning through exposure to a wide array of African cultural production, evaluating how the work engages with the theories of art activism and public health we’ve studied. Through experiences in the classroom and in the field, students will arrive at deeply informed perspectives on the AIDS pandemic in southern Africa, and will gain an activated understanding of the issues in public health, as well as the possibilities for theatrical interventions.
    Contact: For more information and application details go to the Web site.