TABLE OF CONTENTS
HANC ANNOUNCEMENTS
NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
HANC PROGRAM UPDATES
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
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Evidence 2 Practice at University of Texas, Austin
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University of Texas Pharmacy school students and E2P graduates.
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E2P Co-founders, Faculty Champions, and staff.
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E2P Co-founders Dr. Lance Okeke, Dr. Kenric Ware, and HANC Director Russell Campbell speak to why E2P is an all hands on deck approach to ending the HIV epidemic, one school at a time!
Click photo to watch!
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University of Texas Austin Faculty Champions Dr. Travis Carlson and Dr. Brian Wenger share about their experience hosting E2P, the phenomenal students, and hopes for the future. Click photo to watch!
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Gladys and Jazmyne, recent graduates of E2P at University of Texas Austin share their insights on this engaging 3 day workshop. Click photo to watch!
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HANC landed in Austin, Texas for the University of Texas Evidence 2 Practice (E2P) workshop this December. Filled with students from the University of Texas Pharmacy School, the energy was palpable as these eager students were ready to learn about HIV prevention and how to apply it to their clinical practice. Led by the E2P Co-founders, Dr. Lance Okeke of Duke University, Dr. Kenric Ware of the Mercer School of Pharmacy, and HANC Director Russell Campbell, it was a veritable meeting of the minds to guide these students through 3 days of learning and generating real world solutions for their campus and ultimately, practice.
E2P would not be possible without the support of faculty champions, Drs. Travis Carlson and Brian Wenger. HANC interviewed Drs. Carlson and Wenger to learn why E2P was important for the students at the University of Texas. The school motto is “What Starts Here Changes the World”, and Drs. Carlson and Wenger wanted to give the students an opportunity to start the seeds of HIV prevention to engender real change in the world. Dr. Okeke stressed that these students are consequential public health practitioners, capable of making a big impact.
The workshop starts with targeted lectures by Drs. Okeke and Ware to discuss HIV incidence with a focus on Texas, and HIV prevention modalities with an emphasis on PrEP and the role pharmacists can assume towards the advancement within the HIV care continuum and beyond. Mr. Campbell introduced students to the importance of HIV research and brought important context to the history of HIV/AIDS. Students benefited from other guest lecturers, Dr. Carolina Mejia of Duke sowing the seeds of implementation science, and Dr. Angela Aifah discussing the necessity of human-centered design when tackling public health problems.
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real work began when students put learning into practice and developed real world solutions for campus PrEP dissemination. Formed in small groups of three, students worked from generated insight statements to guide their solutions. Their solutions were astounding. Projects included improving campus accessibility to HIV education materials, integrating PrEP prescribing practices into the school curriculum, influencing UT students to attend HIV awareness and PrEP educational events through a drag show, using Linktree to survey student perceptions of HIV and PrEP, and implementation of clinical skills regarding counseling and patient education to empower future pharmacists to prescribe PrEP. Each group presented their idea and budget to the room in Shark Tank style. Engaging discussion was had, and the Sharks saw much value and hope in all the solutions.
HANC was privileged to interview two students and garner their perspective on the 3-day workshop. Learning about the unique Texas HIV epidemic, coupled with a lot of HIV knowledge gained, has ignited a spark and passion for these students. They are committed to serving the public and especially underserved populations through HIV prevention as consequential public health practitioners. It was a joy to grow alongside such promising pharmacy students. What starts here changes the world.
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Introducing the U.S. HIV Research Desert Map
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This interactive map conceived by the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC) in partnership with Evidence2Practice (E2P), highlights geographic coverage and gaps in the HIV/AIDS clinical research infrastructure in the United States (U.S.).
The map features the distribution of the U.S.-based clinical research sites conducting studies through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks, the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) sites, and the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) priority jurisdictions, in geographic relation to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
The nation’s 103 HBCUs and 35 TCUs, many of which are located in EHE jurisdictions, are a prospective source of the diversity critically needed to address underrepresentation in the HIV workforce and engagement in HIV research.
This interactive map can be utilized for planning purposes to assist leaders, advocates, community partners and policymakers to visualize EHE priority jurisdictions and U.S.-based HIV research hubs in geographic relation to HBCUs and TCUs.
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Neetha Shagan Morar
Senior Research Manager
HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU)
Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
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Neetha is a Senior Research Manager at the HIV and other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU) of the South African Medical Research Council. She is also a Community Core Lead for the KwaZulu Natal Clinical Trials Unit (KZN CTU). She is a trained social worker with a Master’s in Medical Science. Her goal is to make a significant footprint towards the environment and wellbeing of the community through meaningful partnerships and collaboration.
Currently, Neetha is working towards understanding the ethical considerations in access to biomedical interventions, stakeholder engagement by learning from the users of health services and biomedical interventions.
Her responsibilities include social science research and stakeholder engagement within the NIH-funded trials at the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) and non-NIH funded studies at HIDRU. She has managed the dissemination of research results to the communities and stakeholders for over five NIH and several non-NIH funded trials for the last 20 years, where participants and communities received the results prior to public release. The PrEPVacc trial is the most recent case study of transparent results disseminated to study volunteers and stakeholders.
Her research interest focuses on understanding the uptake and use of biomedical interventions among users and the ethics around stakeholder engagement in research. She is the PI for the Implementation and Evaluation of a Peer Education Programme in Communities, an MRC study. Through this she facilitated training of peer educators, many of whom have become the voice of research in the communities.
She has served on several committees related to conducting large-scale clinical trials, such as the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Health Research Ethics Committee (KZN-PHRC), SAMRC Research Ethics Committee, MRC/info4africa KZN Community Forum, Representative on HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC) Community Partners group, and HVTN Southern Africa Social & Behavioral Working Group.
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She has served as an investigator on more than five social science studies that were coordinated with clinical trials. These focused on understanding the social and cultural context of acceptability and adherence to biomedical HIV prevention technologies among women participating in randomized clinical trials in South Africa. A few of these studies also included understanding male partner responses to the microbicides. She was the site PI for the Nanofiber Fabric Pilot Study: Acceptability of a Multi-Prevention Technology (MPT) Delivery System and Assessment of ASPIRE and HOPE Adherence (MTN-032).
Motto is to unlearn, relearn and learn during her spiritual journey on earth.
Q: What goals do you have for the coming year?
To work in partnership with stakeholders, users, service providers and researchers so that we collectively advocate for equity and access to health interventions. To write the experiences for newsletters and publications.
Q: What keeps you motivated?
The study volunteers and stakeholders who have been supporting and contributing to science outcomes in the past two to three decades at HIDRU, SAMRC is a testament of their trust in research.
Q: What can others do to support HIV research?
Collectively we need to be more action oriented and collaborate ethically with authenticity so that there is direct benefit to our communities and study volunteers on the outcome of the research, For example, we need to facilitate and prioritize access to biomedical interventions among the countries, communities and study volunteers within shorter time frames. We must be honest with our stakeholders about access costs and timelines prior to study implementation so that informed decisions are made about study participation and support.
Neetha reveals, "I am a spiritual being on this human journey, and I nurture soul relationships based on soul connections which includes my maternal and paternal ancestors." She connects by watching ocean waves, listening for the whisper, or susurration, of the waves against the rocks. Neetha also recommends hot water with slices of lemon, equally as refreshing and invigorating for the body.
HANC commends Neetha for her tremendous work and impact in HIV research. Her holistic approach is admirable and puts community first. HANC is proud to collaborate with and celebrate Neetha.
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Follow HANC's Legacy Project on our new platform BlueSky at
@hanc-legacyproject.bsky.social
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As we look to the new year, we want to reflect on 2024, which produced exciting HIV prevention accomplishments, moving us one step closer to eliminating HIV as a global public health issue.
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End of Year Reflection: A Message from the IMPAACT Network Chairs
December 1 marked World AIDS Day, a day for global reflection, awareness, and renewal of our shared commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. And this year’s theme, “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress,” underscores the power of unity and collaboration in achieving remarkable milestones while recognizing the critical work that still lies ahead.
For
IMPAACT, our collective efforts over the past year have brought advances aimed at improving health outcomes for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant or postpartum people affected by HIV and its related complications. World AIDS Day was an opportunity to celebrate the year’s achievements and reflect on IMPAACT’s ongoing commitment to improving lives worldwide. This year, two studies began enrollment, two additional protocols were finalized, and development of protocols for three more new studies was initiated. It was a busy year; you can read a message from our Network Chairs who highlighted some of our achievements on
our website.
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Behavioral and Social Sciences
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Greg Davis
HANC
Project Manager
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The Behavioral Science Consultative Group continues to move forward on the measures coordination project. The group has been reviewing outlines for the areas of interest to close the year out. Writing will begin in 2025.
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Greg Davis
HANC
Project Manager
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Russell Campbell
HANC Director
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Community Partners is looking forward to an exciting 2025! The group already has two non-English webinars in the works. Ad-hoc groups are being formed to begin working on CP’s goals and objectives for the year. CP has started considering dates for their 2025 face-to-face meeting.
The TB Vaccine Community Engagement Strategy Work Group is working on a mapping tool that will allow users to easily locate sites conducting TB trials. Currently, the map focuses on Network studies, but the map will include non-Network studies in the future.
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Cross-Network Coordination
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Kathleen Pescasio
HANC Cross-Network
Project Manager
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The Cross-Network Site Coordinators Working Group (SCWG) continues to discuss best practices for improving communication lines and support structures across networks. The group is having ongoing conversations on ways to enhance training and mentorship for site coordinators.
The IT BEST Practices Working Group (ITBPWG) recently met and discussed site experiences with the IT Security Best Practices Guide. The group will work to make revisions and continue to hold conversations on how to best address site challenges.
The Cross-Network Communications Working Group (CWG) shared engagement at recent conferences and network annual meetings. The group continues to discuss experiences with communications tools and resources.
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Tyler Brown
HANC Laboratory
Project Manager
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The CPQA Cross-Network Clinical Pharmacology Forum (CNCPL Forum) convened in December to discuss updates on proficiency testing rounds, future compounds for compendial testing, and SOP updates. CPQA and HANC are exploring establishing a new working group to address technical challenges, facilitate method development, and share best practices among CPQA-participating clinical pharmacology labs through an open forum.
In December, HANC held a meeting with DAIDS Clinical Laboratory Oversight Team (DCLOT) to develop a survey aimed at assessing laboratory record retention practices. This survey will be distributed in the coming weeks to laboratories affiliated with the DAIDS Clinical Trials Networks.
In December, HANC reconvened the Cross-Network Cold Chain Guidelines Working Group to review and publish an updated version of the guidelines. The guidelines provide instructions for maintaining optimal cold chain temperatures for specimens during retrieval and shipment. HANC aims to publish a new version of the document this spring.
Reminder: Last fall, HANC published a new version of the Cross-Network PBMC Processing SOP (Version 7.0)! The updated SOP is now available on the HANC website for public access in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Thai. You can access the new document here. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to us at
tdbrown3@fredhutch.org.
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Brian Minalga
HANC
Deputy Director
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Cat Banobi
Legacy
Project Manager
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Gabriella Olague
HANC
Project Coordinator
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The Women's HIV Research Collaborative (WHRC) is excited to announce the new 2025-2027 Co-Chair, Dr. Liesl Nydegger! Dr. Liesl Nydegger (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. We are so grateful for her collaboration with Legacy Project and know she will be a wonderful Co-Chair.
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U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) 2025 (Washington DC)
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