September 25, 2006

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

A. CIRA SPONSORED AIDS SEMINARS

1. THIS WEEK! Director's International Seminar: "Researching the Epidemic in India: Critical Concerns and Issues”
   09/28/06, 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   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.
2. Research In Progress Seminar: "Perinatal Outcomes in HIV Infected Pregnant Women: A Proteomic Approach"
   10/06/06, 1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
   Speaker: Ayanda Mbele, International Trainee
   Sponsor: Office of International Training (OIT)
   Location: OIT, Large Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 3D, New Haven
   
3. NEW! YACS@CIRA: "Update on Global HIV Prevention Research"
   10/10/06 12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. (Lunch will be provided)
   Speaker: Sten Vermund, M.D., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Institute for Global Health
   Please RSVP to Elizabeth.Eocaci-Tucker@yale.edu.
   Co-Sponsors: CIRA and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies
   Location: CIRA, Large Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
   Contact: 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
4. NEW! Research In Progress Seminar: "The Gospel and Culture: A Critical Gendered Analysis of Traditional Marriage Practices in the United Church of Zambia in the Kitwe and Mufulira Consistories in the era of HIV/AIDS"
   10/13/06, 1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
   Speaker: Lillian Siwila, International Trainee
   Sponsor: Office of International Training (OIT)
   Location: OIT, Large Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 3D, New Haven
   

B. CIRA MEETINGS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. THIS WEEK! Community Forum on Community Engaged Research for Community's Leaders
   09/27/06, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon
   Description: 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
2. THIS WEEK! Community Research (CR) Core Meeting
   09/28/06, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
3. NEW! Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting
   10/11/06, 10:30 A.M. – 12:00 Noon
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
4. NEW! Peer Review
   10/12/06, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
   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.
5. NEW! Interdisciplinary Research Methods (IRM) Core Meeting
   10/13/06, 10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
   Location: CIRA Conference Room, 40 Temple Street, Suite 1B, New Haven
6. 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 Bridgeport Community HIV Forum - "Keys to Success"
   09/27/06, 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
2. NEW! THIS WEEK! Sociology Colloquium Series: "Partnership Networks and HIV Transmission"
   09/28/06, 4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.
   Speaker: Martina Morris, University of Washington
   Sponsor: Yale University Department of Sociology
   Location: 107 Williams Hall, 80 Sachem Street, New Haven, CT
   Contact: jerri.cummings@yale.edu or visit http://www.yale.edu/socdept/colloquia/
3. NEW! Working Research Group Risk Assessment Forum: "The Cultural Cognition of Risk"
   10/05/06, 12:00 Noon
   Speaker: Dan Kahan, Deputy Dean and Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law
   Sponsor: Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics
   Location: 60 College St., New Haven, CT Winslow Auditorium in the basement of the EPH building
   Contact: For more information and luncheon reservations contact jonathan.moser@yale.edu
4. NEW! CALL FOR PAPERS "Values and Ethics in Harm Reduction"
   The deadline for expressions of interest (one page including title, authors, affiliations and brief abstract) is October 31, 2006. The deadline for receipt of papers is February 28, 2007. All contributions will be peer-reviewed.
   The International Journal of Drug Policy will be publishing a Special Issue on "Values and Ethics in Harm Reduction" during 2007. The Special Issue will be edited by Kaveh Khoshnood, Robert Power, Mukta Sharma and Craig Fry.
   We invite the following types of contribution: Scientific review papers (max 7,000 words); Research papers (4,000-6,000 words); Short research reports (2,000-3,000 words); Policy and/or historical analysis (3,000-5,000 words); Commentary and/or viewpoint (2,500-4,000 words); Editorials (1,000-2,500 words); Short reports and research notes / case studies (750-1,500 words).
   Expressions of interest should be emailed to Kaveh Khoshnood: kaveh.khoshnood@yale.edu with "Harm Reduction Ethics" in the subject-heading field. The special issue will be published in 2007.
5. Consumer-Targeted Adherence Conference
   10/25/06, 8:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
   "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