San Francisco Bay Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)

Project summary
The San Francisco Bay Area has experienced a particularly intense HIV epidemic, with men
who have sex with men (MSM), Black, and Latinx populations most heavily impacted in the
region; and transpeople and people who inject drugs important populations for engagement.
Drs. Susan Buchbinder and Diane Havlir are scientific leaders in HIV prevention and treatment,
respectively. Together they will lead the San Francisco Bay Area Clinical Trials Unit (SFBay
CTU), affiliated with the ACTG, HPTN, and HVTN. This integrated research organization will
accomplish 3 specific aims through these Networks: 1) advance prevention and treatment
science and their intersection within the Clinical Trials Networks; 2) implement clinical trials
efficiently and with excellent adherence to protocol while engaging diverse communities; and 3)
develop a new generation of diverse leaders in HIV prevention and treatment science. Drs.
Buchbinder and Havlir are joined by a diverse pool of talented investigators who have provided
leadership across the Networks, serving on numerous scientific leadership committees and
working groups and chairing a range of prevention and treatment protocols. The two Clinical
Research Sites, the Bridge HIV CRS (affiliated with HVTN and HPTN and led by Dr. Hyman
Scott) and the UCSF CRS (affiliated with ACTG and led by Dr. Annie Leutkemeyer) have
records of excellence in enrollment, retention, and adherence to protocol requirements, and
actively engage local communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This application
represents a renewal of the SFBay CTU, with several improvements, including new leadership
by an accomplished, diverse group of investigators; integration of community programs into a
single, status-neutral team; expansion of community engagement and recruitment into the East
and South Bays of San Francisco; and full integration of early stage investigators in all aspects
of the science of the SFBay CTU. Through a smoothly running research infrastructure, divided
into Scientific, Operational, and Community Engagement Steering Committees, the SFBay CTU
is committed to continued leadership in the ACTG, HPTN, and HVTN, and contributing to
breakthroughs in the science of HIV prevention, treatment, and cure.

Grant Number: 5UM1AI069496-19
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Susan Buchbinder