The Prevention Sciences Core provides support for investigators involved in seroepidemiologic studies, as well as behavioral and biological interventions to prevent HIV transmission, including work with adolescents and women at increased risk for HIV, incarcerated populations, as well as vaccine and microbicide interventions. The core acts as a service laboratory to train Fogarty fellows and local new investigators in HIV and STD diagnostic techniques; coordinates and manages the serodiagnostic laboratory repository including blood and genital tract secretions; and convenes meetings to coordinate collaborative efforts of HIV Prevention Science Core investigators and discuss potential projects of interest.

Prevention Science Core Services

• Mentoring and support of junior investigators with a focus on prevention techniques
• Assay testing such as HIV dried blood spot and Western Blot testing, HIV rapid testing and use of and training in the performance of the BED Capture Assay
• Screening assays for sexually transmitted diseases, including HSV-2, type specific serologies, and testing for genital tract cytokines; pooled HIV RNA testing.
• HIV incidence studies by BED assay and other tests for active HIV infection
• Processing and pooling of samples for Hep C testing.
• Mentoring and development in writing laboratory Protocol Development, Standard Operating Procedures.
• Budget development for laboratory testing and /or processing, storage and shipping of samples.
• Processing samples and assisting with local and international shipping to other investigators.
• Domestic and international training in HIV antibody testing, serodiagnostic techniques, seroepidemiology, P24 antigen assays, STD techniques, preparation of genital tract secretions specimens
• Research assistance in performing qualitative or quantitative interviews for developmental prevention research
• Administrative assistance in coordinating meetings of prevention research collaborators
• Assistance with community education projects

CFAR Core Services Evaluation