Representatives of The Miriam Hospital join national public health experts in honoring Providence/Boston CFAR 

A remarkable milestone was commemorated on Sept. 27 as public health experts from around the country gathered in Providence for the 20th anniversary of the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), based at The Miriam Hospital.

The celebration of the AIDS program took place at a day-long symposium at Brown University, attended by national experts, representatives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and past and representatives of the CFAR partnership -- The Miriam, Brown University and new partners Boston University and Boston Medical Center. Many CFAR alumni from around the country also were present.

In June, The Miriam was awarded a $9.1 million grant from NIH to renew funding for the CFAR and its work. The organization has secured continuous NIH funding since its founding in 1998 under former infectious disease chief Charles C. J. Carpenter, MD. The CFAR is now led by Susan Cu-Uvin, MD.

CFAR is a joint research effort devoted to the pursuit of translational research to reduce HIV infection worldwide by fostering emerging HIV investigators both domestically and within resource-limited settings abroad. CFAR works closely with health departments in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well criminal justice systems and community organizations.

Themes of the symposium included “Celebrating the past 20 years” and “Looking Towards the Future.” 

Opening remarks at the symposium were given by Dr. Cu-Uvin and Arthur Sampson, president of The Miriam. A videotaped welcome from Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was presented.

Additional welcoming remarks were given by Christina Paxson, president of Brown. The keynote address was delivered by Carl Dieffenbach, PhD, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institutes of Health.

Philip Chan, MD, medical director of The Miriam’s STD clinic, was slated as a guest speaker, along with Bess Marcus, dean of Brown’s School of Public Health. .  Bharat Ramratnam, MD, was among the CFAR alumni who presented research.

The afternoon was dedicated to “Looking Towards the Future” and included presentations from Boston University/Boston Medical Center partners,.Dr. Ron Corley, associate provost for research of Boston University, gave remarks. Paul Goulet. representing the CFAR's Community Advocacy Board, emphasized the CFAR’s research collaboration with the community

Presenters traveled from as far as Missouri, Alabama and Florida.

Richard Salit

Senior Public Relations Officer
The Miriam Hospital, Newport Hospital, Gateway Healthcare
401-793-7484
[email protected]