Research Community Collaborative kickoff: A powerful start to a shared vision
On December 2, the Midwest D-CFAR's Scientific Working Group (SWG) hosted the virtual kickoff for the Research Community Collaborative. This event marked the beginning of an exciting effort to create a shared plan for HIV research that responds to the needs of communities across Missouri and the Midwest.
Building bridges and making connections: Midwest D-CFAR representatives join inter-CFAR events
CFARS unite! How do collaboration and innovation drive the fight against HIV? Midwest D-CFAR representatives joined national inter-CFAR events this fall, exploring partnerships and sharing breakthroughs with fellow researchers, advocates, and community leaders.
Dreaming big, writing bold: Empowering researchers to end the HIV epidemic through grant writing
Grant writing requires grit, passion, and a vision for change. During a transformative week, Midwest D-CFAR co-director Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD, guided 13 participants through the art of crafting grants to drive the fight against HIV in Missouri.
Fireside chat with Oliver Ezechi highlights importance of bridging global to local and research to impact
The Midwest D-CFAR and the WashU Global Health Center co-hosted a compelling discussion between Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi, a renowned OBGYN and director of research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and Juliet Iwelunmor, D-CFAR co-director. They highlighted the intersection of global HIV research and its real-world impact on communities.
HIV researchers, advocates, and service providers celebrate the launch of the Midwest D-CFAR
The Midwest D-CFAR officially launched at an event held last month in St. Louis which convened about 100 researchers, advocates, and public health professionals.
Midwest D-CFAR expertise on display at the International AIDS Conference
The 2024 AIDS Conference was held in Munich, Germany, in July, and representatives from the Midwest D-CFAR were there as facilitators, attendees, and presenters.
HIP Seminar Recap: HIV and Telehealth
The D-CFAR's inaugural HIV Works in Progress (HIP) seminar was held in July 2024, featuring a presentation by Dr. Dima Dandachi, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri. Dr. Dandachi presented her study, "ACCELERATE: A Multisite Type II Implementation – Effectiveness Hybrid Mixed Methods Study of a Simplified Accelerated ART Initiation Protocol for People with HIV Who Are Out of Care."
The NIAID-STAR program wraps up its second year
The burden of HIV is inequitably distributed so that it most heavily impacts historically oppressed communities in the US. Although these communities are most impacted by the HIV epidemic, they are also the most underrepresented in the current field of HIV research. The NIAID-STAR program, led by D-CFAR co-director Juliet Iwelunmor, was created to respond to this gap.