Cores & Working Groups/Interest Groups
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(615) 343-8776
tn-cfar@vumc.org
About the TN CFAR Cores & Working Groups/Interest Groups
The Tennessee CFAR consists of five Cores and three Scientific Working/Interest Groups, each of which is tasked with specific aims. All are essential in fulfilling the vision and mission of the Tennessee CFAR. View more about each of the Cores & Scientific Working/Interest Groups below.
Cores
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core (AC) is the “operating system” of the CFAR – overseeing resources and creating a collaborative environment for CFAR users through Cores and Scientific Working Groups (SWG), respectively; receiving and synthesizing input from users; modifying resources; and refining the process in real-time.
Clinical Sciences Core
The Clinical Sciences Core (CSC) fills major gaps in the local research environment, and in so doing supports the mission of the CFAR to reduce the overall burden of HIV/AIDS through the pursiot of National Institutes of Health high priorities of HIV/AIDS research with the ultimate goal of ending the HIV epidemic. The CSC is essential for early stage investigators on the path toward independent extramural funding, which equips the next generation of research scientists while also serving to expand this CFAR’s HIV research portfolio and funding base.
Data Sciences Core
The Data Sciences Core collaborates closely with other cores and develops novel resources, tools and methods to enhance HIV/AIDS research at the participating instituions and beyond. The DSC team has broad HIV research experience, including leadership roles for interational HIV research consortia, long-standing collaborations with HIV investigators, experience handling and analyzing large genomic datasets, and proven track records of developing novel methods and tools informed by and beneficial to the HIV research community.
Developmental Core
The Developmental Core (DC) is envisioned as both a magnet and an engine: a magnet that attracts early-stage and established investigators into HIV research and an engine that provides structure and drive to nurture promising investigators toward success in NIH grant funding.
Laboratory Sciences Core
The Laboratory Sciences Core (LSC) provides services specifically designed to meet the needs of HIV clinical, translational and basic science researchers. The services that the LSC established over the prior funding cycle were carefully designed to address needs unmet by other non-CFAR Vanderbilt core facilities, while simultaneously taking advantage of the impressive range of institutional cores that are equally available to investigators at Vanderbilt and Meharry.
Scientific Working/Interest Groups
Faith & Spirituality Research Collaborative
The vision of the Faith & Spirituality Research Collaborative is to build collaborations among researchers, faith-based organizations, community leaders and public sector leaders, with a focus on ending the HIV epidemic.
Social Determinants of Health and HIV Scientific Working Group
The Social Determants of Health and HIV Scientific Working Group (SDoH and HIV-SWG) comprises members from the partner institution, and with expertise in scientific discovery, clinical care, public health, biostatistics, informatics, community engagement and beyond. Leveraging the complementary strengths and unique missions of each partner institution will position the SDoH and HIV-SWG for the greatest possible impact. The vision of the SDoH and HIV-SWG is to improve HIV care at the population and individual level, and to drive research and implementation strategies that reduce health disparities.