The Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research (ERC-CFAR) was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million in total funding for four supplemental grants from the National Institutes of Health’s Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) program.

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“The 150 investigators in our center are at the forefront of international HIV research,” said Harris Goldstein, M.D., director of the ERC-CFAR, the Charles Michael Chair in Autoimmune Diseases, professor of pediatrics and of microbiology & immunology, and senior associate dean for scientific resources at Einstein. “Our status as an NIH-funded center, provides us with direct access to submit applications from our ERC-CFAR investigators for additional NIH funding to pursue novel and innovative studies identifying unique strategies to improve care for people living with HIV and prevent new HIV infections.”

The supplemental grants will enable ERC-CFAR researchers to make highly impactful contributions to improve the lives of people living with HIV and prevent the further spread of the virus. In addition, one of these supplement grants funds a new program in partnership with Einstein’s office of diversity and inclusion to increase the diversity of trainees who are engaged in HIV science at the high school and undergraduate levels. The supplemental grants will fund the development of pathways that will introduce these “CFAR Scholars” to HIV science and research methods and motivate them to pursue future careers in HIV medicine and investigation.

The four projects funded were:

• Matthew Akiyama, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and infectious disease specialist at Montefiore Health System, received funding to support his study, titled "A Decentralized, Status neutral, Stakeholder-engaged intervention for people living with and at risk for HIV post-incarceration: The DEST2nation Study." Incarcerated individuals are at a heightened risk of contracting and transmitting HIV due to a variety of factors, including limited access to healthcare and high-risk behaviors within correctional facilities. This innovative research project aims to address the unique challenges faced by individuals living with or at risk for HIV post-incarceration.

• Laurie Bauman, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Einstein, was funded for her project entitled “Pharm4PrEP: Developing and Testing a Pharmacy-Driven Model of PrEP to Address Health Inequities in Access.” Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective HIV prevention strategy, but access barriers persist due to healthcare inequities, particularly among marginalized communities. Dr. Bauman's research proposes leveraging community pharmacies to expand PrEP access, making this essential prevention tool more readily available to those who need it.
• Michael Bogaisky, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and geriatric medicine specialist at Montefiore, was awarded a grant to pursue a project entitled, “Implementation of a Fall Risk Screening Protocol for Older Adults In an HIV Practice.” Falls are a significant concern for older adults and can lead to severe health complications. Dr. Bogaisky's research aims to implement a fall risk screening protocol within HIV practices to identify and mitigate fall risks and thereby significantly improve the overall health and quality of life for older adults living with HIV.

• The fourth supplemental grant will fund the ERC-CFAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, named Bronx CHAMP, which will be led by Hector Perez, M.D., and Jonathan Ross, M.D., M.S., and Reginald Leon Hayes, B.S., B.Mus., M.Div.. Drs. Perez and Ross are both associate professors of medicine at Einstein and internists at Montefiore; Mr. Hayes is assistant dean for diversity enhancement in the office of diversity and inclusion at Einstein, led by senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion and professor of emergency medicine at Einstein and an emergency medicine physician at Montefiore Health System, Lynne Holden, M.D. This initiative will expand DEI efforts within the ERC-CFAR with the goal of increasing the diversity of scientists and physicians working toward HIV prevention and cure and improving the lives of people living with HIV in the Bronx and beyond. This program will engage individuals from groups historically underrepresented in science and medicine during the early stages of their educational journeys, including high school and college.