Behavioral, Social, and Implementation Sciences Core
The Behavioral, Social, and Implementation Sciences (BSIS) Core provides training, consultation, and custom services to support the work of faculty and collaborators throughout the Third Coast CFAR. Services draw on the BSIS Core’s expertise in intervention development, biostatistics, health department collaborations, and community engagement.
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Implementation Science
Training and consultation in HIV implementation science is available through the BSIS Core for CFAR members investigators who work in implementation research or who wish to integrate these methods into their HIV research portfolio. The Third Coast CFAR is home to experts in HIV implementation science and creates resources available throughout the CFAR network. Recorded workshops and slide decks on fundamentals and methods in implementation science are available:
- IS 101: An Introductory Workshop
- IS 201: Experimental Designs for Implementation Research
- Landscape of NIH-Funded HIV Implementation Research
- Two Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trials of HIV Prevention eHealth Interventions for Diverse YMSM
- Implementation Science and You: Real-World Applications of Implementation Science in HIV Research
Additional tools and resources to support implementation science are available through the HIV Implementation Science Coordination Initiative.
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Public Health Data
The Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health work closely with the BSIS Core to form and enhance scientific partnerships with CFAR members. These collaborations often leverage existing surveillance data and CDC-funded data resources, including National HIV Behavioral Surveillance and Medical Monitoring Project, for use in HIV research. The BSIS Core provides consultation to investigators as they develop new projects and need navigation to create formal data requests, Data Use Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Releases of Information, and other agreements.
The Clinical Sciences Core provides navigation through health department and single IRB processes, as needed. With collaboration and approval from CDPH or IDPH, the Third Coast CFAR may also facilitate retrieval and analysis of health department data. See the slide deck from a CDPH-CFAR workshop that details data resources available for HIV research partnerships. In addition, a recent Clinical Sciences Core workshop demonstrates how to apply technology design and data innovation principles to public health and clinical HIV research projects. The BSIS Core also navigates users to the Getting to Zero-Illinois HIV data dashboard.
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Community Engagement
The BSIS Core works closely with community partners throughout Chicago. Faculty and staff are available to connect investigators to key community members for input on projects in development or to establish a new CAB for a long-term project. This service is available in addition to accessing the CFAR’s standing Community Collaboration Board, which is also available for consultation. View a workshop presented in 2021, Developing Community-Academic Research Partnerships, for tips and guidance from current and former teams engaged in collaborative HIV research.
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Participant Recruitment
The BSIS Core offers consultation for participant recruitment into HIV studies through online platforms (e.g., apps, social media) or community events. Experienced faculty or study staff will provide feedback on recruitment strategies and materials. The BSIS Core can also connect investigators to community organizations that may share research opportunities with their clients or staff.
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Social, Behavioral, and Person-Reported Outcome Measures
Behavioral and social scientists in the BSIS Core are available to help investigators select relevant and well-validated surveys and scales for HIV research across disciplines. In addition to existing measures for HIV research, the core can also navigate users to non-CFAR resources available to support the development of new instruments.
The BSIS Core also provides navigation to well-validated measures of person-reported outcomes that can be easily integrated into many data collection tools (e.g. electronic medical records, research survey instruments, study visits) for research on the HIV care continuums or management of non-AIDS comorbidities. Existing measurement systems, such as PROMIS and NIH Toolbox, are frequently utilized in research on other conditions and present an opportunity for CFAR members to leverage the expertise of nationally-recognized experts based at Northwestern University. The BSIS Core convened local experts in PROs for an introductory workshop in September 2021. View the recording and slides.
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Biostatistics and Data Analysis
The BSIS Core refers TC CFAR members in need of quantitative services to the Clinical Sciences Core’s Biostatistics and Informatics Team.
Request Services
Request BSIS Core services on the Find a Service page. Contact Angel Aviña with questions about the BSIS Core.
BSIS Core Leadership
Michael Newcomb, PhD, Northwestern University
BSIS Core Director
Nanette Benbow, MAS, Northwestern University
BSIS Core Co-Director
Russell Brewer, DrPH, University of Chicago
BSIS Core Co-Director