Study design, data capture and harmonization, and statistical analyses are central to high-quality HIV research. Since the Tennessee CFAR was established in 2015, its Data Sciences Core (DSC), which provides biostatistics and biomedical informatics support, has been integral to the CFAR’s success. The DSC has provided statistical guidance to over 80 unique investigators in the current grant cycle as part of its highly popular CFAR Data Science Clinics, which rotate among Vanderbilt, Meharry Medical College, and the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). These collaborative help sessions continued through the pandemic and have expanded via virtual meetings. The DSC has worked closely with the Development Core (DC) to strengthen DC applications, complete projects described in DC proposals, and assist early career investigators in applying for and obtaining NIH funding. The DSC has invited inspiring HIV data scientists from outside Tennessee to share knowledge and strengthen cross-organizational collaborations. The DSC has developed shareable data tools and analytic methods to support the CFAR and helped TDH with data linkage and analyses, building trust and opening new research opportunities. The fruits of this work include high-impact publications, external funding, and an atmosphere of collaboration among the CFAR partner organizations. Since 2020, the DSC supported 23 new NIH grant applications that were ultimately funded, with total costs of $10.6 million per year (8 R01s, 3 K23s, 6 R21s, 2 R34s, 1 R56, 1 R61, and 2 U01). Many of these
successes would not have occurred if not for the CFAR and the DSC, as we demonstrate throughout this proposal.

The DSC is poised for even greater impact in the next grant cycle. The overarching goal of the DSC is to elevate the quality of HIV research through data-related support, which includes thoughtful study design, efficient data collection, timely statistical analysis, and practical methods development. Based on the outcomes
of CFAR strategic planning initiatives, the DSC leadership, aims, and services will grow to address new areas requested by the CFAR member community. We will expand our support in two key areas of biomedical informatics and data support for community partners; preliminary work and new initiatives in these areas
are highlighted throughout this application.

The DSC is led by Director Stephany Duda, PhD (Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt) and Co-Directors Bryan Shepherd, PhD (Professor of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt) and Peter Rebeiro, PhD (Associate Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt Divisions of Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology.) The DSC team also includes Mohammad Tabatabai, PhD (Professor and Director of Biostatistics at Meharry), and Quanhu Sheng, PhD (Associate Professor of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt). We propose three aims focused on providing
research support, tools and analysis methods, and investigator training.

• Weekly walk-in data science clinics (For more information, click here)
• Statistical and biomedical informatics support
• Development of databases, tools and methods to advance HIV research
• Training in biostatistics and biomedical informatics

For service request or inquiries, please contact tn-cfar@vumc.org