The cross-network/trans-NIH Institute Youth Prevention Working Group (YPRWG) is seeking a post doc or graduate student in a related field of study (e.g., social welfare, public health, sociology, psychology) familiar with the HIV clinical research landscape to review HIV prevention literature.
Research assistants would apply inclusion criteria developed by the YPRWG, help determine articles and measures appropriate for inclusion in a searchable database, and make metadata assignment recommendations. The database will help the committee analyze the existing research imperatives, trial results, and protocols in development to identify gaps in the NIH HIV/AIDS scientific enterprise. Criteria includes:
general study information, document type, target population, age range, gender, regional setting, demographic, route of infection, HIV status of participants, trial design, trial status, funding source, PI/lead author, target accrual, dates, trial type, etc. Guidance and documents will be provide by the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC). Experience using SharePoint is desired but not required.
Background:
The cross-network/trans-Institute Youth Prevention Working Group (YPRWG) was formed in March of 2012. Its creation was a key recommendation emerging from the NIH “Focused initiatives for Healthier Lifestyles by the Inter Network Advisory Group on Adolescent Prevention” meeting. The group consists of representatives from the six HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks funded by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS), the Adolescent Trials Network (ATN), DAIDS, NIAID, NIMH, NIDA, and NICHD. HANC provides programmatic support.
The YPRWG’s scope is international and focused on 12-24 year olds. The group will address the following:
· Coordinate sharing of network adolescent research agendas
· Address the challenge of conducting trials across multiple networks
· Consider tangible outcomes such as dropping the mean age of network volunteers
· Validate existing tools
· Compare ongoing and upcoming studies
· Consider adolescent issues early on in design process
· Review relevant informed consent documents
· Collate a set of core competencies
Youth Prevention Research Working Group Coordination Objectives for Year 7
· Objective #1: Collect and collate articles relevant to the conduct of clinical research in the adolescent/young adult population (12-24). Resources will include protocols, best practices, case report forms, articles, etc. from both within and outside of HIV/AIDS research.
· Objective #2: Identify key metadata terms and develop a robust searchable database of relevant materials. The database will live on the HANC portal and be available to the broader research community.
· Objective #3: Analyze the existing research imperatives, trial results, and protocols in development to identify gaps in the scientific enterprise.
· Youth Prevention Research Working Group Objective #4: Working Group members will liaise with their respective Network Leadership and protocol team members to share the assessment of the ongoing research and consider ways to address the gaps.
· Objective #5: Ensure cross-network/trans-Institute communication around research in the youth population.
· Objective #6: Explore the development of co-endorsed protocols or adolescent sub-studies.
· Objective #7: Monitor the success of the working group efforts over the course of its existence.
· Objective #8: Engage network community representatives and experts in the field. At-large participants will be engaged as needed to address technical considerations such as data management and protocol design models.
For more information about the position and to contribute to the project, please contact Amy Ragsdale (aragsdal@fhcrc.org)