The Center for Dissemination and Implementation announces the launch of a new Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) in Missouri, which brings together researchers from across the translational spectrum to address the HIV epidemic. This D-CFAR is part of a national network of 20 NIH-funded centers, and it is the first of its kind in the Midwest. The center is a collaboration between Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis University, and Harris-Stowe State University.
Centers for AIDS Research have long been a cornerstone of scientific investment in HIV research, fostering collaboration across institutions and creating a cohesive and sustained response to the epidemic. Over the last three decades, these centers have played a vital role in advancing HIV science. Under leadership of WashU infectious disease expert, Professor Elvin Geng, and a highly skilled team of collaborators, the new D-CFAR will build on this legacy by emphasizing not only clinical and basic science research, but also dissemination and implementation science, which has become increasingly important in the fight to end HIV.
One of the key elements of the Midwest D-CFAR, and a distinctive strength of the Missouri region’s contribution, is the focus on implementation research through WashU’s Dissemination and implementation Science Core (DISC), which will play a pivotal role in D-CFAR activities. Led by WashU and Saint Louis University researchers, Ginger McKay, Juliet Iwelunmor, and Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, DISC addresses the ongoing HIV epidemic by optimizing the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based interventions in Missouri, a key End the HIV Epidemic focus area. The core provides tailored D&I resources for HIV investigators, consultation on incorporating D&I methods, and fosters collaboration between academic and non-academic stakeholders. By enhancing engagement and evaluating the impact of its activities, the DISC aims to amplify HIV research efforts and contribute to ending the epidemic in St. Louis and Missouri.
Nationally, there is growing recognition that implementation science is key to ending the HIV epidemic. While we now have highly effective tools to treat and prevent HIV, including the recent approval of long-acting injectable HIV prevention, the challenge lies in delivering these innovations to the people who need them most. This is where implementation research is crucial—helping bridge the gap between scientific advancements and real-world impact by focusing on how health care systems and organizations sustainably and equitably deliver care.
In September, the D-CFAR team hosted a successful center launch event at the Cortex Innovation District in Midtown, St. Louis. Researchers, scientists, and community members met the D-CFAR team, learned about the latest advancements in HIV/AIDS research, and engaged in meaningful conversations about how the center can best serve the community.
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HIV researchers, advocates, and service providers celebrate the launch of the Midwest D-CFAR
Read a summary of the event on the Midwest D-CFAR website.