Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,

My name is Harvey R. Fields, Jr., and I have the privilege of serving as Founding Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU). I am honored that the College of STEM at HSSU is not only a partner, but also a leader within the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research. The Center is already fostering impactful work and partnerships throughout the St. Louis region, and it is offering tremendous opportunities for inclusion and engagement to HSSU and other institutions in the broader St. Louis community.

One of the most exciting of the community-facing developments stemming from these partnerships is a new, paid internship program for HSSU students hosted by the St. Louis City Department of Health (STL DOH). The internship is a career-building experience and a crucial opportunity for HSSU students to directly engage with the fight against AIDS in the community while still undergraduates. This hands-on experience is enhanced through associated professional development, leadership training, and mentoring from leading public health professionals and researchers at the STL DOH, WashU and Saint Louis University. Students will gain a deep understanding of HIV-related challenges and of the importance of collaborative efforts to address these challenges. HSSU’s College of STEM is immensely proud to facilitate this opportunity to our students and grateful to the Midwest D-CFAR for making this collaboration a reality.

The College of STEM at HSSU will continue to build upon this momentum. As founding dean, I am confident that the relationships between the academic institutions, public health agencies, the greater St. Louis region and the Midwest D-CFAR will lead to innovative solutions and powerful advancements in HIV research, prevention and care. This is truly a unique time for collaboration. I look forward to what we will achieve together.

My thanks to the Midwest D-CFAR for your leadership in, and continued dedication to, this vital work and to HSSU! Your partnership is invaluable to us, and we remain excited and expectant about all that lies ahead.

Continue being well and pursuing well-being!

Harvey R. Fields, Jr.
Founding Dean, College of STEM
Harris-Stowe State University

P.S. If you want to continue receiving updates on the Midwest D-CFAR in your inbox, please subscribe to our mailing list.

Applying for our pilot funding opportunities, which supply up to $20,000 in direct costs for HIV-related research, just got easier! The application package has changed to reduce the number of required documents. Faculty with primary appointments at WashU, SLU, and Harris-Stowe State University, and who are early-stage investigators or established investigators that are new to HIV/AIDS research are eligible. Full proposals for our Investigator Pilot Awards and Partner Pilot Awards are due on November 15, so there is little time to waste! Visit our website for details.

As part of our efforts to connect academic knowledge with real-world public health programs, the Midwest D-CFAR has developed an undergraduate research training program for Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) students with the St. Louis Department of Health (STL DOH). Interested students should apply before November 15. Full details and a link to the online application can be found on our website.

Although programs have been ongoing for a few months now, the Midwest D-CFAR held our official launched last month at the Cortex Innovation Community in St. Louis, convening about 100 researchers, advocates, and public health professionals from the area. D-CFAR leaders talked about their work and the services offered through the Center’s Cores, and several panel discussions highlighted how the D-CFAR interfaces with existing organizations engaged in the HIV response in Missouri and beyond. Read a recap of the event.

Last week, the 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. Read our recap of the discussion.

SPOTLIGHT on Michael Durkin, director of the Scientific Working Group

Get to know Michael Durkin, director of the Midwest D-CFAR’s Scientific Working Group (SWG), co-director of antimicrobial stewardship, and an associate hospital epidemiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in our October spotlight. Learn about his research in patient safety and quality and his vision for the SWG Community Collaborative. The full interview is available on our website.

Joseph Cherabie featured on thebodypro.com

Joseph N. Cherabie, assistant professor of medicine at WashU, and 'Let's Stop HIV Together' Ambassador offers a primer for clinicians who are seeking to better understand fundamental principles of gender-affirming care and how to apply them in HIV prevention settings in an instructional video featured on thebodypro.com.

(all events listed in central time)

HIV Works in Progress (HIP) Seminar: Environmental Impacts on Immune and Brain Health in Persons Aging with HIV; Preparing for a Career Development Award
2-3:15pm | Virtual (Zoom)

Presenters: Sarah Cooley, PhD; Richard Grucza, PhD

Inter-CFAR Health Equity Working Group Launch
10am-12pm | Virtual (Zoom)

Hosted by the Duke CFAR

Seminar: The Dynamic Interplay Between Bone and Metabolic Health in People Living with HIV
12-1pm | Virtual (Zoom)

Presenter: Ryan Ross, PhD

Hosted by the Third Coast CFAR

University of Pennsylvania tenure-track professor position: Intersection of HIV/AIDS and mental health

Johns Hopkins University postdoctoral fellow position: Multidisciplinary study on HIV medication-associated weight gain and metabolic dysfunction in women with Dr. Sangwon Kim. Contact Dr. Kim via email for more details or to apply.

CFAR Adelante
This NIH-funded career development program is open to early career HIV investigators and their community-based organization partners, providing up to $250,000 for research projects to reduce HIV-related health disparities among Hispanic and/or Lantinx people in the US. Proposals are due December 2.

HIV Vaccine Trials Network Research and Mentoring Program
The application period for the 2025-2026 HVTN Research and Mentorship Program (RAMP) is now open. RAMP provides structured mentorship and project funding for medical students from communities that are underrepresented in medicine in the US who are considering careers in HIV prevention and/or vaccine research. Applications are due December 2.

CHIPTS Next Generation Conference | January 31, 2025 | Los Angeles, USA
The goal of this free conference is to support the next generation of HIV researchers, HIV prevention and treatment practitioners, and service providers dedicated to ending to the HIV/AIDS epidemic through networking and exchanging visions for future priorities. Abstract submissions are being accepted until October 28.

Everyone has a part to play in ending the HIV epidemic! Whether you're an investigator, an aspiring researcher, a member of an organization serving communities affected by HIV, someone living with HIV, or simply an individual who wants to make a difference, we welcome you to join us as a Midwest D-CFAR member. Visit midwestdcfar.org to learn how.

"I was previously affiliated with the CFAR [at another university] prior to relocating to WashU, so I was very familiar with the community, resources, and support afforded by CFARs. When I became aware of the Midwest D-CFAR, I knew I wanted to be a member and commence collaborating with others on research topics important for HIV."

Burel Goodin, PhD
Member, Midwest D-CFAR