HIV Community Advisory Boards (CABs) exist to make sure that community voices are included in all HIV treatment and prevention research. As volunteers, we partner with researchers by providing important input from the community perspective in order to advance HIV/AIDS research.
CABs provide an opportunity for stakeholders in HIV communities, especially clinical trials participants to:
- Connect with other people living with HIV and/or allies within the HIV community
- Share ideas and concerns about studies from the development stage through implementation
- Provide suggestions for recruiting and retaining clinical trial participants
- Advocate for clinical trial participants, especially those communities most impacted by HIV
- Improve our knowledge of HIV/AIDS, of research, and of community involvement
- Ensure that community involvement is prioritized in local HIV research
- Promote ethical research
CAB members, which includes individuals living with HIV, those passionate about HIV prevention, professionals, and community members, meet face to face and via conference calls. We hold trainings, review protocols, offer feedback, discuss research, share input and resources, and learn more about HIV clinical research processes. HIV treatment and prevention clinical trial participants are especially encouraged to join.
The CAB seeks to represent the diversity of culture, gender, race, sexual orientation, language, and socioeconomic status in the local HIV community. All are welcome to join!
If you'd like to learn more about the CAB, please contact:
Sherri Karas Certo
Pitt CRS Clinical Recruiter and Community Educator
412-383-1313
sjk91@pitt.edu