The Third Coast CFAR continued to nurture community-academic partnerships in HIV research in 2017. Via two different funding mechanisms – the Community Collaborative Award and the Community Mini Award – the CFAR supported exciting collaborations that will expand HIV research initiatives in Chicago.

Community Collaborative Awards

Development of a Centralized Repository of HIV Testing and PrEP Data

Jessica Ridgway, MD, MS, University of Chicago

Laura Rusie, ScM,  Howard Brown Health 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howard Brown Health (HBH) is the largest provider of PrEP care in Chicago and possesses rich data sources regarding HIV testing, partner services, HIV care, and PrEP for thousands of patients. However, there had not been a comprehensive repository of these data before the Community Collaborative Award from the Third Coast CFAR. These data exist in unlinked, disparate databases with varying structures, collection methods, and dictionaries. Using the CFAR award, Laura Rusie from HBH and Jessica Ridgway from the University of Chicago will develop an integrated data repository of HBH’s HIV/STI testing and care data, partner services data, PrEP prescription and visit data, and public data sets, including neighborhood crime rates and access to public transportation. Use of the full database of administrative, programmatic, and environmental data will ultimately allow HBH to provide modify existing linkage to PrEP models and to eventually compare the effectiveness of distinct approaches to engage and retain patients in PrEP care. The database will also be an invaluable resource for HBH and UC researchers to generate hypotheses for applications to NIH.

 

Examining Care Cascades to Understand and Improve HIV and Non-communicable Chronic Disease Comorbidity Management

Nivedita Mohanty, MD, AllianceChicago

Eric Christoff, MD, Howard Brown Health

David Sgarbossa, MA, LCSW,  Howard Brown Health

Lisa Hirschhorn, MD, MPH, Northwestern University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Findings show significant gaps in outcomes related to diabetes control and prevention of related complications in people living with HIV (PLWH). For PLWH to continue to benefit from advances in HIV treatment, they need to succeed not only in managing their HIV, but also co-morbidities. Little is known about the challenges and successes in PLWH and their providers in achieving the treatment goals of HIV and diabetes along these continuum(s). The collaborative team of researchers and clinicians from Howard Brown Health, AllianceChicago, and Northwestern University will examine data from electronic medical records to help answer key questions about diabetes care in PLWH. This community collaborative study will include a description of success rates along both the HIV and diabetes care continuum(s) and explore demographic factors associated with identified gaps. The results will be shared with HBH to reflect on identified gaps and successes in the context of their current models for HIV and diabetes care. The work will culminate in a stakeholders meeting to identify opportunities for future NIH grants to adapt evidence-based interventions to adapt and to improve HIV comorbidity management.

 

Community-Mini Awards

Center on Halsted (COH)
5th Annual LGBTQ Health Conference: Bridging Research and Practice
April 28th-29th, 2017

TACTS-The Association of Clinical Trial Service
7th Annual Women’s Health Careers Networking Social
May 12th, 2017

Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus (CBGMC)
Love Fest
July 1st, 2017

Howard Brown Health
Midwest LGBTQ Health Symposium
October 6th-7th, 2017

Center for HIV Elimination
Paragon Ball
November 25th, 2017