SWG2: End the HIV Epidemic

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC SCIENTIFIC WORKING GROUP 2 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed to end the HIV epidemic in the United States with the ambitious goal of 75% reduction in new HIV infections in 5 years and 90% reduction in 10 years targeting communities hardest hit by the epidemic. Cuyahoga County, where Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is located, is one of the 48 highest burden counties. CWRU and University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) will create an Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Scientific Working Group (SWG2) within the RUSTBELT CFAR. The overarching goal of the EHE SWG2 is to promote interdisciplinary collaborations that result in successful applications for new HIV prevention and implementation research projects. Pitt has a diverse portfolio of successful biomedical and behavioral research with active community engagement including initiatives such as AIDS-Free Pittsburgh. Recently, Allegheny County has significantly reduced its HIV incidence from 139 cases in 2015 to 85 cases in 2018. CWRU has a strong relationship with local public health officials and the HIV community, in which formal and informal channels have been maintained for over 19 years with deep roots to community inclusion via public and private organizations and numerous community events and educational meetings. EHE SWG2 will build on the regional, cultural, and demographic similarities between Pittsburgh and Cleveland to promote robust HIV prevention research, practice, and research training. The EHE SWG2 has two aims: (1) Expand academic/community/practitioner partnerships to develop research programs that identify gaps across EHE pillars in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. EHE SWG2 will bring together researchers, community stakeholders, and nontraditional partners to address each of the pillars of the National Plan to End the HIV Epidemic. SWG leadership will provide support to investigators to implement an array of successful community- based HIV prevention and implementation research programs. This initiative will produce joint Pitt/CWRU investigative teams and generate valuable pilot data for additional End the HIV Epidemic supplementary proposals and other R21/R34 mechanisms. (2) Facilitate new EHE implementation research projects that align with the pillars of the NIH HIV strategy in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. EHE SWG2 will develop productive interactions with RUSTBELT CFAR Cores, Sex & Gender SWG1, and the Inter-CFAR Implementation Science Working Group to develop grant proposals for a robust EHE research and practice, leveraging each institution’s strengths to facilitate a new, dynamic program of HIV prevention implementation and research. The EHE SWG2 will utilize an empowered community framework for shared decision-making in EHE research prioritization, design, implementation, and dissemination and support the development of new research initiatives and advocacy for local- and state-level policy changes. By focusing its resources on communities most affected by HIV and developing an effective HIV prevention research infrastructure, the EHE SWG2 represents a key first step on the path to ending the HIV epidemic in the rustbelt region.