Network News

Please remember to cite the CFAR. Citing the CFAR grant number (AI050409) on all publications and presentations that benefited from any level of Emory CFAR consultation, services, materials, mentorship, or funding is crucial in ensuring our continued support from NIH.

Colleen Kelley was recently awarded new NIH R01 funding for Understanding the Rectal Mucosal Effects of Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy Among US and Thai Transgender Women (R01AI147839-01).

Transgender women who have sex with men (TGWSM) face an HIV acquisition risk that is 48 times the general population but, until recently, prevention research in transgender populations -- including elucidating the biology of HIV transmission in TGWSM -- has received little attention.

This is a problem because, although TGWSM have historically been grouped with MSM in HIV prevention studies due to their shared risk of HIV acquisition through condomless receptive anal intercourse, these two populations are not physiologically interchangeable. Many TGWSM use cross-sex hormone therapy that may affect the mechanism of HIV transmission at the mucosal surface. A better understanding of how rectal HIV transmission occurs among TGWSM who are taking cross-sex hormone therapy will be a crucial first step in the development of improved biomedical prevention interventions for TGWSM. Go Colleen!!

This is a periodic celebration of new research awarded while Network News was on extended hiatus.

(Belated) congratulations to Cheryl Day for receiving NIH R21 funding in 2018 for Mechanisms of Antigen-specific CD4 T cell Dysfunction in HIV/TB Co-infection (R01MH116695).

Co-infection with HIV is the single greatest risk factor for reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and progression to TB disease. Understanding how co-infection with HIV dysregulates T cell-mediated immune control of LTBI is essential for the rational design of TB vaccines, and for the development of new approaches to augment protective immunity to TB in persons living with HIV.

CFAR Rising Stars...

Kristin Wall and Jeb Jones, have been competitively selected to represent the Emory CFAR as Early Stage Investigators at the 2019 NIH CFAR National Meeting, being held at UNC Chapel Hill. Yay!!

As part of their participation in the event, Jeb and Kristin will present posters:

Hormonal Contraception and Women's HIV Acquisition Risk in Rwandan Discordant Couples, 2002-2011.

Assessing Patterns of PrEP Adherence
and Persistence among MSM in the Southern United States.

Community Corner...

Footlights | Vaccine Dinner Club - Wednesday, September 4

Focus: Basic Science

Click Here to Register

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The Network News is a periodic email, detailing HIV/AIDS related events, funding opportunities, and achievements of CFAR members. If you have items that you wish to have included, please send them to us at cfar@emory.edu by Friday of each week. Please put "The Network News" in the subject line.

The Network News is distributed to CFAR members and fans by email every Wednesday. Except when it isn't.

Editor, Kimbi Sessions Hagen, EdD