CIRA Mapping Expertise Used to Advance Policy Changes

The Interdisciplinary Research Methods (IRM) Core has developed Geographical Information System (GIS) capability that relates directly to the HIV epidemic and associated risk factors. Most recently, CIRA's GIS expertise was enlisted to help inform deliberations at the federal policy level concerning harm reduction measures, specifically the lifting of the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange programs that was proposed in legislation before the United States Congress in July 2009. Language in an amendment to the proposed legislation forbade syringe exchanges "within 1000 feet of a public or private day care center, elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college or university, or any public swimming pool, park, playground, video arcade, or youth center, or an event sponsored by any such entity."

Russell Barbour, Ph.D., Assistant Director for the IRM Core, produced maps for Chicago and San Francisco illustrating how such a ban would virtually eliminate the possibility of locating a syringe exchange anywhere in either city close to communities where such harm reduction measures are needed. The maps were used to educate policy makers and their staff on the adverse consequences of imposing such wide restrictions on the siting of syringe exchange programs.

CIRA Sponsored Seminars and Meetings

1. There are currently no CIRA sponsored events.

General Announcements

1. CFAR SBSRN 4th National Scientific Meeting
   
   Date/Time: 10/01/09-10/02/09
   The Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Network (SBSRN) is intended to link the 20 Centers for AIDS Research (CFARs) and fellow behavioral scientists/researchers in the field funded by the NIH in the United States. The SBSRN is intended to 1) initiate mechanisms to encourage sharing resources; 2) to host an annual scientific meeting; 3) to provide a forum for a national mentoring program for junior and translational investigators, and 4) to promote collaborative multi-site research. This meeting is open to CFAR investigators and affiliates as well as all interested academic, public health and community members.
   Sponsors: Harvard University Center for AIDS Research and the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research
   Location: Courtyard Boston Brookline, 40 Webster St, Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA 02446
   Contact: For more information on the meeting including registration fees and schedule, please go to https://regstg.com/Registration/Introduction.aspx?rid=2e25e176-5f1c-4ae0-87af-5feaacf70e68.