September 11, 2006

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

A. CIRA SPONSORED AIDS SEMINARS

1. YACS@CIRA: "A Systematic Review of Epidemiology and Prevention of Hepatitis C Virus in Drug Users"
   9/21/06 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. (Brown bag lunch, cookies and drinks provided)
   Speaker: Holly Hagan, The Center for Drug Use and HIV Research at the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
   Hyperendemic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in drug users presents one of the most challenging issues in public health. To develop effective prevention programs, HCV epidemiology and prevention research conducted so far must be thoroughly understood, as factors associated with variability in HCV infection may offer leads to HCV prevention. We are currently conducting a systematic review (meta-analysis) of all related research conducted since 1989 (when HCV was discovered). A meta-analysis of HCV infection among non-injecting drug users will be presented as an example of our study methodology and findings.
   Please RSVP to Elizabeth.Eocaci-Tucker@yale.edu by 9/14/06.
   Co-Sponsors: Institution for Social and Policy Studies and the Yale School of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases (EMD)
   Location: 60 College Street, LEPH Room 608 New Haven, CT
   Contact: For more information or directions, please call 764-4333, email leif.mitchell@yale.edu or visit the YACS@CIRA website: http://cira.med.yale.edu/events/yacs.html
2. Director’s International Seminar: “Researching the Epidemic in India: Critical Concerns and Issues”
   9/28/06, 4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.
   Speaker: Dr. Shalini Bharat, Ph.D., Dean, School of Health System Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
   Sponsor: CIRA
   Location: OIT Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 3D, New Haven
   Contact: Please RSVP to Debra Tompkins at: debra.tompkins@yale.edu or (203) 764-4337.

B. CIRA MEETINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. THIS WEEK! Executive Committee Meeting
   9/14/06, 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
2. NEW! Peer Review
   9/21/06, 2:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
   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 Newton (debra.newton@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.
3. International Research (IR) Core Meeting
   9/25/06, 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
4. NEW! Community Forum on Community Engaged Research for Community’s Leaders
   Wednesday, September 27th 9-12
   During this workshop participants will address the value of community/university partnerships in health research for the community and the university and what each partner needs to bring to the table. A reactor panel will be moderated by Sarena Siefer of Campus Community Partnerships for Health. http://www.ccph.info
   Sponsors: CIRA jointly sponsors this event along with the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Empower New Haven, and Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center
   Location: Aldermanic Chambers, City Hall, New Haven, CT
5. Community Research (CR) Core Meeting
   9/28/06, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
6. RFA The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) is seeking proposals under a new program entitled “Innovative Pilot Projects in Priority Areas of HIV/AIDS Prevention Research.” This program differs from our traditional pilot project program in the following ways:
   • The program aims to stimulate innovative research in specific priority areas.
   • The maximum award is $30,000.
   • Funds may be used to support Principal Investigator effort.
   • All investigators are eligible to apply, irrespective of their seniority or previous HIV research experience.
   • There will be a two-stage application process.
   For complete information on this RFA please go to: http://cira.med.yale.edu/opportunities/pilotrfa_pas.html
7. CIRA International Research (IR) Core Consultations

   The IR Core is offering CIRA-affiliated scientists and CIRA Postdoctoral Fellows the opportunity to call on its expertise through Core Consultations. A portion of the Core meetings, held on the fourth Monday of every month from 3:00-4:30 pm, will be available for scientists seeking guidance or the exchange of ideas about an ongoing or new international HIV/AIDS research project.

   The IR Core members include internationally renowned scientists from diverse disciplinary backgrounds like epidemiology, medicine, ethics, sociology, economics, and community research. Their research experience spans countries like China, India, Russia, South Africa and many more. Our IR Core members have designed and implemented preventive HIV/AIDS research projects with injection drug users, sex workers, orphans and vulnerable children and several other high-risk and vulnerable groups.

   At the IR Core meeting, the scientist receiving the Consultation will first provide a brief, informal overview of the research project and the issues he or she would like addressed by the Core. This will be followed by an informal, non-evaluative discussion. Examples of issues that might be discussed include study design, finding international collaborators, ethical issues, and how current research could lead to future research proposals.

   We hope that scientists will take advantage of this opportunity to receive feedback from their peers. Kindly email Reshma Trasi (reshma.trasi@yale.edu) if you would like to schedule a Consultation or if you have any questions.

C. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. THIS WEEK! The Hartford HIV Forum - “CONNECT Project”
   9/12/06, 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   Speaker: Rick Altice, MD; Associate Professor of Medicine; Director, HIV in Prisons Program; Director, Community Health Care Van.
   Sponsors: The Institute for Community Research (ICR) and The CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC)
   Location: Institute for Community Research, 2 Hartford Square West, Suite 100, 146 Wyllys St., Hartford, CT. 06106 Free parking on Wyllys St.
   Contact: Please RSVP to: (860) 278-2044. For additional information, visit their website at: www.incommunityresearch.org
2. THIS WEEK! Greater New Haven HIV/AIDS Clinical Series: “International AIDS Conference Update”
   9/14/06, Noon – 1:00 P.M. Lunch will be provided
   Speaker: Yale AIDS Program Faculty
   Sponsors: The Yale AIDS Program & The CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC)
   Location: 135 College St, 3rd Floor Conference Room, New Haven, CT
   Contact: Please RSVP to CAETC@yale.edu or (203) 737-2312.
3. NEW! The Bridgeport Community HIV Forum - “Keys to Success”
   9/27/06, 12:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   Speaker: Michelle Lopez, New York City
   Sponsors: The CT AIDS Education & Training Center (CAETC), the Evergreen Network and Gilead Pharmaceuticals
   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
4. NIH Announces Requirement for Detailed (Non-Modular) Budget Submissions for All Competing Grant Applications from Foreign (Non-U.S.) Institutions (NOT-OD-06-096)>
   Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
   The NIH informs the research community that all competing grant applications (new, competing continuation/renewal applications, amended/resubmission, and competing supplement/revision) from foreign (non-U.S.) institutions must include only detailed (non-modular) budgets. In recent years the number of grantees in foreign sites has expanded significantly. Providing a budget from our foreign applicants will allow the NIH staff to assist this applicant community with applicable regulatory and policy requirements for grant funding expenditure. This policy is effective with applications prepared for submission dates on or after October 1, 2006 and affects all application formats (SF424 (R&R) and PHS 398). This Notice replaces instructions in all active Funding Opportunity Announcements; individual announcements will not be updated.
   Contact: For more information go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-06-096.html
5. CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS HIV/AIDS: The Development Challenge
   Initial deadline of September 15, 2006
   Volume 3.1 of the McGill International Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (JSDLP) will be a special issue entitled "HIV/AIDS: The Development Challenge". This special issue of the JSDLP seeks to provide a forum for debate and discussion on the linkages between HIV/AIDS and sustainable development. We aim to especially present and address legal and policy issues of critical importance to both HIV/AIDS and sustainable development. These include, for example, access to primary education and property rights; women's rights including the right to own and inherit property; efforts to reduce or eliminate foreign debt; access to treatment, intellectual property rights and the TRIPS Agreement; the role of international human rights law in addressing HIV/AIDS; the use of principles of law related to sustainable development (as identified in the 2002 New Delhi Declaration) in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
   Who May Submit: As a diversity of perspectives is essential to a productive debate of the issues, submissions are encouraged from academics, policy-makers, practitioners, NGO representatives and students alike. The JSDLP accepts submissions in English and French.
   How to Submit: Articles are to be submitted by email to jsdlp.law@mcgill.ca or via regular mail to the address below (if submitting via regular mail, please include a disk with the article on it). Articles should be in Microsoft Word format. The JSDLP asks that it be advised if the article has been submitted to other periodicals.
   Contact: Email jsdlp.law@mcgill.ca should you have any questions regarding the JSDLP or the HIV/AIDS Special Issue in particular. You are also encouraged to visit their website at www.law.mcgill.ca/jsdlp
6. Consumer-Targeted Adherence Conference
   10/25/06, 8:30 AM - 4:00PM
   "A New Approach to HIV Medication Adherence: Learning How to take HIV
   Medications for a Lifetime … and Succeed!"
   Registration ENDS October 17, 2006. Preference will be given to people living with HIV/AIDS, however HIV/AIDS providers are welcome. We will need Name and Phone Number (of participants) for registration.
   Location: Connecticut Grand Hotel, 3580 E. Main St., Waterbury, CT
   Sponsors: The CT Department of Public Health and The CT AIDS Education and Training Center
   Contact: CAETC@yale.edu or (203) 737-2312