The Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR) was established in July 1999 and designated as one of 19 NIH-funded CFARs in the U.S.
The primary mission of the Center is:
- To create an infrastructure to foster basic, clinical, social and integrated HIV/AIDS research on campus;
- To identify funding opportunities and encourage involvement by Penn, CHOP, and Wistar Institute investigators in new and emerging areas of AIDS research;
- To coordinate efforts to develop resources on campus that would be of general use to AIDS researchers;
- To promote educational activities and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students; and,
- To identify underrepresented research areas in order to facilitate faculty recruitment.
This environment is fostered through the creation of shared resource core facilities that provide expertise, resources, and services that are not otherwise available. CFARs are expected to provide “added value” to their participating institutions by sponsoring and supporting training and educational initiatives, stimulating translational research, developing emerging scientific technologies and opportunities, and facilitating the recruitment of high quality AIDS/HIV faculty.
CFARs are also expected to address international and domestic populations hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic by:
- Strengthening the capacity for HIV/AIDS research in developing countries.
- Supporting research on prevention and treatment of HIV infection in hard-to-reach, and hardest hit domestic populations,
especially in inner city, rural poor, and disadvantaged minorities. - Developing junior faculty from communities that are underrepresented in science and academia.
CFAR Statement on HIV/AIDS and Social and Health Disparities
In the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the resulting civil rights movement lead by Black Lives Matter, The Penn Center for AIDS Research released a statement reflecting on the parallels between COVID-19 and the HIV/AIDS crisis and the devastating toll these crises, in combination with systemic racism, have taken on marginalized communities.
CFAR CAB Statement on COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter
The CFAR Community Advisory Board released a statement, in solidarity with the Penn CFAR Administrative Core, reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement and offering support and direction to the people of Philadelphia.