The University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC), has invested in infrastructure and fostered scientists to implement an impressive HIV/AIDS enterprise, covering the full spectrum of translational research. Mostly funded by NIH, the investigators from the MSC have notable achievements and have demonstrated capacity to sustain and expand research activities. One of our strength is the longstanding commitment of scientists and communities to jointly participate in HIV-related clinical, behavior and prevention trials. The investigators who are the leaders for this applicatio n: Integrated UPR Clinical Trials Unit (IUPR-CTU), have three decades of experience, have created research and care capacity, and are involved in mentoring the next generation of scientists (i.e. UPR Mentoring Institute for HIV and Mental Health: PI Zorrilla) and through specific network activities such as: IUPR CTU-PI/PD Carmen D. Zorrilla; ACTG-CRS-PI Jorge Santana and IMPAACT-CRS-PI Irma Febo. In order to address our specific aims, we will continue the operations of the IUPR-CTU which has been in existence in various forms for the past three decades. The IUPR-CTU is the evolution and integration of three separate and previously independent research units that were established with specific scientific agendas for to target populations which were key during the early years of the epidemic (pregnant women, infants, children and adolescents; and adults living with HIV), and that still need provision. The IUPR-CTU will continue to facilitate access to clinical and prevention clinical trials to a large number of participants of Hispanic ethnicity living in Puerto Rico. By participating in clinical trials of new drugs or combinations of drugs many patients have been exposed and received life-saving interventions prior to their commercial availability. In addition, the diversity of the patients recruited nationally has been expanded to represent the race, ethnicity and geographic location mostly affected by the epidemic. The IUPR-CTU will contribute to the research agenda of the NIH sponsored networks (ACTG, IMPAACT and HPTN) by sharing and aligning our infrastructure, our capacity and experience, our access to key populations, our community partnerships and support, and our commitment to investigators, staff and institutions with the goals of the networks,
The Integrated UPR Clinical Trials Unit (IUPR-CTU) will continue to facilitate access to clinical and prevention clinical trials to a large number of participants of Hispanic ethnicity located in Puerto Rico, contributing with a broader perspective in scientific thinking and approaches.
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