
Ending the HIV epidemic in Missouri and the Midwest through groundbreaking research, innovative solutions, and community-driven practices for change
Collaboration and Coordination
Washington University in St. Louis and Saint Louis University have joined forces to establish the Midwest Developmental Center for AIDS Research (Midwest D-CFAR) with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The center serves as a platform for researchers and public health workers to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to fight the HIV epidemic together.


Our vision is to improve the lives of people affected by the HIV epidemic. Our mission is to expand the scope, quality, and impact of science addressing HIV. Our goal is to transform our institutions to lead science aligned with the NIH HIV research priorities, contributing to turning the tide on this epidemic.
D-CFAR News
Dr. Burel Goodin's new Healthy Behaviors for Insomnia Prevention in People with HIV and Ongoing Pain (HIP HOP) study seeks to explore the impact of improving sleep on mitigating chronic pain among people with HIV.
Elizabeth Bukusi, a leading global health expert and renowned HIV researcher, offers insights into her distinguished career, impactful research, and unwavering commitment to improving global health outcomes.
Crowdsourced answers to the question: How do I build a solid professional network in the HIV research community?
The Center for Telehealth Research and Policy (C-TRaP), will conduct five interrelated studies with the goal of integrating machine learning, federated data science, and implementation research to develop predictive, secure, and generalizable tools for evaluating and optimizing rural telehealth delivery.
Dorothy Mangale, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate at WashU, has been selected to participate in the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC)’s prestigious Career Enhancement Program.
Terreon Howard reflects on her internship with the St. Louis Department of Health and what she has learned.
Two recipients will be funded to execute innovative research projects aimed at identifying and addressing systemic gaps in HIV care in Missouri and the broader Midwest.
Dejanae Chapman reflects on her internship with the St. Louis Department of Health and what she is learning about HIV and public health.
Read highlights from the first year of the Midwest D-CFAR’s existence - celebrating what we have accomplished together.
In the first year of the HIP seminar, the Midwest D-CFAR supported grant applications and manuscripts and facilitated numerous research collaborations.
Arianie Esperon, a senior at Harris-Stowe State University, summarizes her experience as an intern with the St. Louis Department of Health’s HIV and STI Prevention Department.
The Midwest D-CFAR-St. Louis Dept. of Health internship program allows dedicated Harris-Stowe students to gain hands-on experience in the field of HIV research and public health.
Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD, is a professor in the WashU Medicine Department of Psychiatry, and co-director of the Midwest D-CFAR’s Development Core.
The Midwest D-CFAR hosted its inaugural HIV Proposal Bootcamp on the WashU Medicine campus in April. This event was designed to support emerging HIV researchers in developing competitive grant proposals.
Julia López, PhD, is an assistant professor of medicine and early-stage investigator at WashU.
Nadia Sam-Agudu’s talk at WashU addressed themes from historical nomenclature to the lingering effects of colonialism and necessity of speaking out for what is right.
Claire Najjuuko, Chenyang Lu, Fred Ssewamala use AI to target interventions to improve compliance.
Helena Lamptey has been selected to receive one of five AFRICURE Developmental Awards for 2025.
Drop-in stats office hours (virtual) - October 13, 11am-1pm
Merck Investigator Studies Program info session (in-person) - October 27, 12pm
Opportunities
Now is a great time to join the Midwest D-CFAR!
Our members can complete a service request form to request a consultation with experts from one or more of our Cores. They are also eligible for our special funding opportunities.
HIV News
Philanthropies strike a promising deal to turn back HIV (The New York Times - gift link)
CDC’s HIV prevention division readies for its demise (MedPage Today)
UN proposes closing UNAIDS in 2026 as funding cuts bite (Reuters)
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When communities are authentically engaged and valued in research, it results in not only better science, but also a healthier, more just future for all.