CIRA Video Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS

"Implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV prevention initiatives in Rhode Island"

The presentation will focus on recent advances in HIV prevention including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In Rhode Island, we have implemented several new initiatives to address HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including a new PEP/PrEP program and free/accessible HIV/STI testing. Our PrEP program is among the first in the country to offer the medication on a clinical basis to at-risk individuals. One of the goals of the presentation will be to identify areas for collaboration between Rhode Island and Connecticut.

"Findings from the SHERPA Project: A Study of Active IDUs Residing in the Suburban Towns of Southwestern Connecticut"

The SHERPA project is a multiple-methods, longitudinal study of active injection drug users residing in non-urban areas of southwestern Connecticut. It is, to our knowledge, the largest sample of active injectors residing in suburban locales. Baseline characteristics of the study sample will be described, with particular focus on HIV and hepatitis B and C prevalence, injection-associated risk behaviors, access to healthcare, and knowledge about HIV, hepatitis, and overdose.

"Prescribing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention: Barriers and Biases among Healthcare Providers"

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a promising biomedical prevention strategy for people at high risk for HIV acquisition. However, its establishment has been met by mixed reactions within the healthcare community. In this Yale AIDS Colloquium Series session, I will discuss the controversy surrounding PrEP as well as the potential for provider bias in the prescription of PrEP to Black MSM and other socially marginalized groups at elevated risk for HIV.

"Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Burden of HIV among Key Populations in Low and Middle Income Countries"

There is an emerging understanding of the importance of addressing the HIV prevention, treatment, and care needs of key populations across HIV epidemic settings including sex work, people who use drugs, gay men and other men who have sex with men, and transgender populations. This session will provide a holistic view of the epidemiology and prevention needs of HIV among key populations by exploring the latest science on the epidemic as well as policy and programmatic influences that enhance or impede the global response.

"Cancer Risk and Prevention in Persons Living with HIV"

The burden of cancer among persons living with HIV/AIDS is substantial due to both impaired immune function and high prevalence of non-HIV cancer risk factors, such as smoking and oncogenic virus infections. Consequently, the two pillars of cancer prevention in this population are restoration of immune function and medical and behavioral interventions to reduce the prevalence of non-HIV cancer risk factors.

"Challenges to the Elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) in the United States"

This talk will review the need to bridge the implementation, knowledge, and ambition gaps to succeed in the elimination of TB here and elsewhere.