Sex Differences

The directors of the Sex Differences Scientific Working Group (SWG) are Catherine Chappell of Pitt and Cheryl Cameron of CWRU.

The goal of the SWG is to engage CFAR members in research involving sex differences in HIV.  This will involve monthly meetings with to increase knowledge base on sex differences, catalyzing new research, and integrating sex differences in existing research. The focus will be on five opportunity areas already identified: (i) The impact of sex and obesity on HIV persistence and pathogenesis; (ii) Sex differences in HIV-associated immune activation; (iii) The interaction between antiretroviral medication and sex hormones; and (iv) Sex differences in latency reversal and viral persistence.

To facilitate incorporation of sex differences in HIV research, the SWG plans to develop in vitro sex-specific primary cell models of HIV latency for sex-based cell and molecular biology studies and provide a large repository of samples from cross-sectional studies and longitudinal cohorts that will be characterized by sex.

The Sex Differences Working Group will also coordinate a junior mentorship program.  Scientific teams (junior and senior members) will be created with focus on sex differences.