Research
The CORE Center is
committed to providing leadership in infectious disease research to help patients live longer,
more comfortably and more independently. The performance of high quality research is central
to the CORE Center's mission, and the Research Department has broad experience with HIV research.
Clinical research, behavioral science research and natural history studies are available to our patients,
including pregnant women, children and adolescents.
We conduct innovative and scientific studies that are patient-sensitive, using established methods and ethical principles. Research is designed and conducted to find better treatments for our patients and to improve our understanding of infectious diseases. This may involve new medications, vaccines, interviews and therapies. All studies are voluntary and available at no cost.
In 2009 NIH funded the Chicago Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR). The CORE Center/Stroger Hospital is collaborating with Rush University Medical Center and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in this five year program. The Clinical Core section of the D-CFAR is housed at the CORE Center under the direction of Audrey French, MD. One of the aims of the Clinical Core is to increase the depth and breadth of translational research by facilitating collaborations between researchers. Research interest groups established and supported by the Clinical Core include, HIV in Women, Drug Abuse and HIV, and HIV and Aging. Studies in all three of these interest groups will provide opportunities for our patients to be involved with new, collaborative research projects. The Clinical Core section also supports a specimen repository. For additional information please go to: http://chicagocfar.org
Major NIH-funded studies at the CORE Center include:
- Adolescent Trials Network (ATN)
- International Maternal, Pediatric, Adolescent and AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT)
- Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)
- Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)
These programs support studies in many different areas related to HIV infection and prevention. In addition to federally funded research, the CORE Center also offers participation in industry sponsored clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies.
Our Project Coordinators/Contacts
| Area | Contact(s) |
| Adult Clinical Trials | Mieoak Bahk, 312-572-4543 |
| Adolescent Trials Network | Kelly Bojan, 312-572-4571
Rachel Jackson, 312-572-4554 |
| International Maternal, Pediatric, Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials | Maureen Haak, 312-572-4541 |
| Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study | Carmon Houston, 312-572-4552 |
| Women's Interagency HIV Study | Angela Shansky, 312-572-4551 |
| General Research Information | Karen Kroc, 312-572-4765 |
The adult clinical trials program includes industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated studies. Please contact the coordinator at 312-572-4543 to learn what trials are currently open for enrollment.
The Division
of Adolescent Medicine at Stroger Hospital of Cook County Hospital is an
Adolescent Medicine Trials Unit (ATU) in the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network
(ATN) established by the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development. Our ATU is one of the CORE Center's programs conducting research
on HIV and other infectious diseases that may improve the lives of 1) youth
from becoming infected with HIV and other infections like hepatitis A and B;
and /or 2) youth who are already infected to have better treatment methods. The
adolescent research team is now working with the international team of
investigators on the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiative (iPrEx).
Please call the Project Coordinator at 312-572-4571 or 312-572-4554 to learn what studies are open to enrollment.
International Maternal, Pediatric, Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT)
The IMPAACT mission is to evaluate treatment for HIV-infected children, adolescents and pregnant women including prevention of co-infections and co-morbidities. This study group conducts trials of novel pharmaceutical and immune therapies, vaccines and strategies for best use of existing antiretroviral in perinatally infected children.
Please call the Project Coordinator at 312-572-4541 for more information or to learn what studies are open to enrollment.
Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)
MACS is an
ongoing NIH funded prospective study of the natural and treated histories of
HIV-1 infection in homosexual and bisexual men conducted by sites located in
Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. Almost seven thousand men
have been enrolled since its inception in 1984. The CORE Center site
started enrollment in January, 2002. The study enrollment is closed with
a cohort of 107 men. This site augments research efforts in the long term
benefits and adverse efforts of therapy on men of color. Current
sub-studies include cardiovascular, hepatitis B and pharmacokinetics research.
More information about this project can be found at
http://www.statepi.jhsph.edu/macs/macs.html
For further information, contact Carmon Houston at 312-572-4552 or email CHouston@cookcountyhhs.org
Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)
WIHS was established in August 1993 to investigate the impact of HIV infection on women in the United States. The WIHS has sites in six major U.S. cities including Chicago, Brooklyn, the Bronx, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Over 3000 women have enrolled in the WIHS nationally, including over 400 women here in Chicago. The extraordinary commitment of WIHS participants, who participate in two research visits every year including complete physical and gynecological exams, laboratory testing and a detailed interview about their health, makes it possible to learn more about the physical, emotional and social health of HIV positive women in the U.S. The Chicago WIHS program includes patients from other area hospitals including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital.
You can also visit our national WIHS website at http://statepiaps.jhsph.edu/wihs/