Hawaii HIV Immunology and Vaccine Core

描述（由申请人提供）：该RCMI计划在夏威夷大学马诺阿（UHM），高等教育的主要机构 在太平洋盆地，其学生主要由亚洲人和太平洋岛民组成，已经开始了新千年生物医学和健康研究卓越的“复兴”。RCMI的资金正被机构基金用于加速分子药理学、免疫遗传疾病和艾滋病毒相关疾病的病理生物学方面的卓越研究发展。此外，核心支助活动正在扩大，以包括一个加强的分子生物学核心设施，用于迅速出现的技术;通过一个扩大的计算机网络支助设施，一个更充分发展的计算机网络能力;以及一个新设立的生物统计和数据管理设施，用于提供急需的生物统计支助。目前关于RCMI补充资金的提案将利用先前由RCMI资金支持的艾滋病毒临床试验能力和人类逆转录病毒学和分子流行病学专业知识的现有优势，建立急需的细胞和分子免疫学能力以及艾滋病毒疫苗试验能力。已为拟议的艾滋病毒免疫学和疫苗核心征聘了强有力的领导和专家顾问，并已确定了直接的用户基础。通过RCMI支持开发的增强的专业知识将允许充分和积极参与艾滋病临床试验组（ACTG）进行的免疫学终点研究以及通过艾滋病毒疫苗试验网络进行的未来艾滋病毒疫苗和免疫疗法的临床试验。此外，这种新发现的能力将加强正在进行的艾滋病毒相关痴呆症研究项目和其他纵向队列研究，特别是在感染艾滋病毒的老年人中。这一举措满足了地方和区域的需要，符合该机构和夏威夷州的总体目标，即成为艾滋病毒/艾滋病研究、培训、治疗和预防的区域英才中心。 第2部分-夏威夷HIV免疫学和疫苗核心 美国的少数民族人口受到艾滋病毒/艾滋病的严重影响。因此，为少数群体服务的机构必须在制定有效的艾滋病毒预防研究方案方面发挥主导作用。虽然在马诺阿的夏威夷大学（UHM）在艾滋病毒临床试验专门知识和分子逆转录病毒学方面建立了相当大的基础设施，但艾滋病毒免疫学和疫苗研究方面相对薄弱。UHM夏威夷艾滋病研究方案的长期目标是建立一个真正全面的艾滋病毒/艾滋病研究和培训以及艾滋病毒感染的治疗和预防中心。RCMI补充资金的目的是利用人类逆转录病毒学和艾滋病临床试验的现有优势，发展急需的细胞和分子免疫学以及艾滋病毒疫苗研究能力。 具体目标1。扩大实验室在细胞和分子免疫学方面的能力，以便更多地参与ACTG试验，扩大目前资助的艾滋病毒研究的范围，并作为亚太艾滋病毒/艾滋病联合预防计划的艾滋病毒免疫学参考实验室。 具体目标2。建立艾滋病毒疫苗试验研究的机构能力，以加入艾滋病毒疫苗试验网络。 具体目标3。与其他机构开展强有力的国家和国际合作， 参与测试新型免疫疗法和预防艾滋病毒的机构和公司 疫苗。 我们的期望在授予期结束时，UHM将成为一个主要的参考中心， 免疫学测试，因为它们涉及艾滋病毒疫苗的效力评估。此外，我们预计UHM将成为全国HVTN的指定站点。这些事态发展将对继续发展夏威夷艾滋病研究方案和建立艾滋病毒疫苗试验区域参考中心产生重大影响，特别是在亚洲进行的试验，在本千年期间，亚洲的艾滋病毒/艾滋病新病例将远远超过非洲。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The RCMI Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), the principal institution of higher learning within the Pacific Basin whose student body is comprised predominantly of Asians and Pacific Islanders, has begun a "renaissance" of research excellence in biomedicine and health for the new millennium. RCMI funds are being leveraged by institutional funds to accelerate the development of research excellence in molecular pharmacology, immunogenetic disorders, and pathobiology of HIV-associated disorders. In addition, the Core Support activity is being expanded to include a strengthened Molecular Biology Core Facility for rapidly emerging technologies; a more fully developed computer network capacity through an expanded Computer Network Support Facility; and a newly created Biostatistics and Data Management Facility for much-needed biostatistical support. The current proposal for RCMI supplemental funds will build on existing strengths in HIV clinical trials capacity and expertise in human retrovirology and molecular epidemiology, previously supported by RCMI funds, to build much-needed capacity in cellular and molecular immunology and in HIV vaccine trials capability. Strong leadership has been recruited and expert consultants have been enlisted for the proposed HIV Immunology and Vaccine Core, and an immediate user base has been identified. The enhanced expertise developed through RCMI support will allow full and active participation in studies with immunological endpoints conducted by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) and in clinical trials of future HIV vaccines and immune-based therapies, conducted through the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Moreover, this newfound capacity will enhance ongoing research projects on HIV-associated dementia and other longitudinal cohort studies, particularly among elderly individuals infected with HIV. This initiative addresses local and regional needs and is consistent with the overall goals of the institution and the State of Hawaii to become a regional center of excellence for research, training, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. SECTION 2 - HAWAII HIV IMMUNOLOGY AND VACCINE CORE Ethnic minority populations in the United States have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. As such, it is imperative that minority-serving institutions play a lead role in developing effective prevention research programs for HIV. While considerable infrastructure has been built in HIV clinical trials expertise and in molecular retrovirology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM), an area of comparative weakness has been in HIV immunology and vaccine research. The long-term goal of the Hawaii AIDS Research Program at UHM is to establish a truly comprehensive center of excellence for research and training in HIV/AIDS and treatment and prevention of HIV infection. The objective of this proposal for supplemental RCMI funds is to build on existing strengths in human retrovirology and AIDS clinical trials to develop much-needed capacity in cellular and molecular immunology and HIV vaccine research. Specific Aim 1. Expand laboratory capabilities in cellular and molecular immunology to allow greater participation in ACTG trials, to expand the scope of currently funded HIV research and to serve as the HIV immunology reference laboratory for the Joint Asia Pacific HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. Specific Aim 2. Build institutional capacity in HIV vaccine trials research to gain entry into the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). Specific Aim 3. Develop strong national and international collaborations with other institutions, lead agencies and companies involved in the testing of novel immune therapeutics and preventive HIV vaccines. Our expectations at the end of the grant period are that UHM will be a major reference center for immunological tests as they relate to the evaluation of HIV vaccine efficacy. Moreover, we expect UHM to become a designated site of the nationwide HVTN. These developments will have a significant impact on the continued development of the Hawaii AIDS Research Program and on establishing a regional reference center for HIV vaccine trials, particularly those conducted in Asia, where new cases of HIV/AIDS will far exceed those in Africa during this millennium.