| News and Updates from the Midwest D-CFAR |
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“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
– James Baldwin |
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Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Partners,
My name is Darius Rucker, and I am truly honored to serve as the Chair of the Stakeholder and Community Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR). As we move forward in this important work together, I am filled with excitement and hope. We are creating something special—an opportunity to center community voices, especially those often pushed to the margins, and to ensure that equity becomes the core of how we approach our shared mission.
James Baldwin’s words remind us that while change can be difficult, it’s only by confronting the realities faced by our most marginalized communities that we can begin to make meaningful progress. Transfolx, Black women, queer and same-gender loving men, and individuals grappling with mental health and substance use challenges continue to experience the weight of inequity in ways that demand our focus. Too often, their stories are left out of the conversations that shape policy, research, and care.
This is where we come in—not as saviors, but as partners. Our work is about more than research and more than advocacy. It’s about creating a space where those who have been ignored or overlooked can lead, guide, and inform the decisions that affect their lives. We have the privilege of ensuring that their lived experiences are not just included, but centered.
I invite you all to reflect on how our collective efforts can create real, lasting change—not only by advancing scientific discovery but by transforming systems of care to be more inclusive, more compassionate, and more just. Our coalition represents a diverse group of people, from different sectors and backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to end the HIV epidemic. Together, we can ensure that the most marginalized voices become the driving force behind the solutions we seek.
As we begin to onboard and develop the SAC, I encourage each of you to get excited! This is an opportunity for us to grow, learn, and build something truly impactful together. I can’t wait to see the amazing work we’ll accomplish as a united force, dedicated to equity and community empowerment.
Thank you for your commitment and for being part of this journey. Together, we will make a difference.
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| In solidarity,
Darius Rucker
Chair, Stakeholder and Community Advisory Committee
Midwest D-CFAR
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P.S. If you want to continue receiving updates on the Midwest D-CFAR in your inbox, please subscribe to our mailing list.
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Meet the Midwest D-CFAR Team at our St. Louis launch event!
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Celebrate with us and learn how you can contribute to ending the HIV epidemic in Missouri and beyond on September 23 at noon! Mix and mingle with Center leadership, hear about the latest groundbreaking HIV/AIDS research, and tell us how you think our Center can best serve our community.
Registration is free, but space is limited and filling up quickly, so reserve your ticket today!
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HIV pilot funding opportunities to be announced this month
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We are almost ready to launch our first call for applications for pilot funding opportunities! If you haven’t already, now is the time to apply to become a member of the Midwest D-CFAR, which will grant you access to our core services and make you eligible for these exciting awards! Keep an eye on our website and social media (X and LinkedIn) to be among the first to know when to submit your application.
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CROI investigator scholarship applications are now open
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The 32nd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), is being held from March 9 to 12, 2025, in San Francisco, California. CROI is now accepting applications for New Investigator Scholarships and International Investigator Scholarships to support conference travel and attendance. For more information, visit the CROI website.
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(all events listed in central time)
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SPOTLIGHT on Liang Shan, ATC Core director
Dr. Liang Shan, co-director of the Midwest D-CFAR’s Advanced Technology Core (ATC), and a leading investigator in HIV immunobiology at WashU, is the subject of our September investigator spotlight. In our interview, Dr. Shan reflects on his career journey, from his early interest in persistent viral infections to his groundbreaking work on immune mechanisms to clear HIV. He shares insights into his current projects, including the exploration of the CARD8 inflammasome as a novel approach to target HIV-infected cells. Dr. Shan also discusses the ATC and its mission to support and enhance HIV research. Read the full interview on our website.
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INSPIRE Center to launch soon at WashU
WashU has been awarded a grant to establish the Innovative Network on the Science and Practice of Implementation, Research, and Engagement (INSPIRE) Center. Poised to transform HIV prevention and treatment for adolescents and young adults in low- to middle-income countries, INSPIRE will be led by Drs. Juliet Iwelunmor and Elvin Geng, also co-directors of the Midwest D-CFAR, alongside Dr. Joseph Tucker from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read the full story on our website.
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Fred Ssewamala receives new grant from NIMH
Dr. Fred Ssewamala, director of the Midwest D-CFAR's Developmental Core, was awarded $3.3 million from the National Institute of Mental Health for a study examining the long-term impact of a combination intervention on HIV prevention, care ,and mental health for adolescents and young women in Uganda. The new study, known as Suubi4Her-Round 2 will extend the original Suubi4Her study (2017-2023). Read more on the ichad website.
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- MIDWEST DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER FOR AIDS RESEARCH -
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA
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The Midwest D-CFAR is funded by the NIH (P30 AI176532) and supported by the following institutes: NIAID, NCI, NICHD, NHLBI, NIDA, NIMH, NIA, NIDDK, NIGMS, NIMHD, FIC, NIDCR, and OAR. The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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