Branch Overview

The DHAP Epidemiology Branch (EB) conducts biomedical and behavioral epidemiologic research to reduce HIV infection and disease progression. EB has six teams: HIV Vaccine and Special Studies, Minority AIDS Research Initiative, Mother-Child Transmission, Antiretroviral Prophylaxis and Microbicides, Prevention and Care, Clinical Epidemiology in addition to administrative, informatics, statistics, and laboratory support. EB includes staff members with research expertise in epidemiology, clinical medicine, and behavioral and social science; has a 2008 operating budget of $43 million; is responsible for a wide spectrum of HIV research projects with partners in 28 US states and 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia; and currently has staff stationed in Thailand, Kenya, Botswana, and Cameroon.

Position Overview: Research Scientist for the Minority HIV/AIDS Research Initiative (MARI) Team, Epidemiology Branch, DHAP-SE, NCHHSTP, CDC, Atlanta, GA. (1 position)

The MARI program builds capacity for HIV epidemiologic and prevention research in African-American and Latino communities and promotes the independent research careers of HIV/AIDS investigators working in these communities. In addition, MARI tries to engage in capacity building among researchers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools. MARI team members also work on other projects with the goal of reducing sexual health risk to African-American and Latino youth and adults. MARI team projects involve both qualitative and quantitative research skills. The applicant for the MARI position should have some training in the behavioral sciences with some knowledge of the behavioral aspects of HIV prevention. The fellow will be expected to apply knowledge of the behavioral sciences and related social and health sciences as they assist and help develop the HIV/AIDS research ideas with the MARI investigators. The fellow should have baseline knowledge of a quantitative data analysis program, such as SAS. The fellow, in conjunction with the team members, may develop partnerships with other government agencies such as health departments, academic researchers, and private organizations to accomplish MARI program objectives. The fellow may be expected to develop and present workshops and seminars, if needed for the MARI research agenda. The fellow will need to learn about and develop an understanding of CDC’s Internal Review Board (IRB) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) processes, which are integral parts of moving all CDC research projects forward.

Proposed Initial Projects: The fellow will initially become familiar with current MARI projects and assist with qualitative and quantitative research needs. By early 2009, the fellow will be given responsibility to help execute the research plans for the second phase of MARI. This will include all aspects of protocol development support, operations manual design, technical assistance, and capacity building activities for MARI investigators. In the course of working with MARI, the fellow will manage data that can be used to complete their own MARI research project.

Position Overview: Research Scientist for the Mother-to-Child Transmission Team (MCT), Epidemiology Branch, DHAP-SE, NCHHSTP, CDC, Atlanta, GA. (1 position)

The Mother-to-Child Transmission (MCT) Team coordinates the perinatal HIV prevention programs sponsored by CDC, conducts investigations directed at prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT), and provides subject matter expertise on MCT in the United States. Mother-child HIV transmission is a critical issue concerning communities of color: nearly two-thirds of individuals living with perinatally acquired HIV transmission are African-American (66% in 2005), and a significant number of the remaining MCTs occur in Hispanic/Latino populations.

CDC’s Classification System for Pediatric HIV infection has been in use since 1994. This system is not designed to account for the clinical improvements that are possible when patients receive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The fellow will work on determining whether the present system can be used--or whether a new system needs to be developed—to monitor the clinical effect of HAART. A major part of this consideration will be to use existing clinical data on children living with HIV from at least two major CDC studies—(1) the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study (PACTS) and the Pediatric Spectrum of Disease (PSD) study. It is anticipated that (1) these studies will be analyzed together, using advanced stochastic modeling techniques based on the present classification system, and (2) the results of the analysis will inform discussions about the utility of the present pediatric classification system. Other analyses are possible depending on the Branch and Team needs and interests of the fellow.

The fellow should be doctoral level (MD or PhD) and willing and prepared to deal with large data sets. Expertise in advanced modeling techniques will be provided by DHAP staff and consultants, and will not be required of the fellow, though the fellow will be expected to acquire this expertise and undertake the analysis.