 | Home News Events Cores Science Funding Programs Partners Links | | About The Virology Core The Virology Core Laboratory provides laboratory services, consultation and training for multidisciplinary, translational research in order to advance collaborators' research programs in the prevention, treatment and understanding of HIV/AIDS. Created in 1997, the laboratory is strategically and centrally located at San Francisco General Hospital with its associated sentinel population of HIV-infected individuals and thriving research programs.as a translational research laboraty designed to bridge the bench-to-bedside interface of basic and clinical research. The laboratory has expanded to 12 scientific and support staff, offering high-quality consultation, molecular diagnostic testing, and specimen services for both research studies and patient care. Collectively, this work has significantly broadened our understanding of HIV disease pathogenesis, transmission and treatment. The specific aims of the laboratory are to provide: Service through development and implementation of molecular diagnostic assays and analysis tools under strict adherence to rigorous operational procedures and quality assurance programs. Research through scientific leadership and laboratory resources to advance our understanding of
*HIV-1 transmission and correlates of protection that may lead to novel strategies for prevention.
*Viral replication in the context of latency and partial ARV drug suppression.
*The causes and consequences of ARV drug resistance.
*Host factors that modulate HIV replication and evolution.
*HIV replication and evolution in tissue compartments with a focus on transmission, antiretroviral drug resistance and disease progression. Education and outreach through
*Mentoring and training of junior investigators and research scientists focused on translational research in local, national and international settings.
*Consultation with research collaborators, junior scientists and community members to assist in the interpretation and comprehension of virologic research findings.
Core OperationsBy collaborating with an increasingly strong network of multidisciplinary basic and clinical scientists, the Virology Core Laboratory is strategically and operationally poised to leverage CFAR funding to effectively support translational research, and advance our understanding of HIV transmission and disease pathogenesis, identify new and optimize the use of existing antiviral agents, and to guide vaccine design.
The Virology Core supports clinical and epidemiology studies with state-of-the-art virologic assays to allow investigators to identify new antiviral agents, optimize the use of existing agents, and guide the design of vaccines. The Virology Core laboratory is licensed as a clinical laboratory by the State of California and has been awarded Certificates of Compliance from the Health Care Financing Administration in Virology and Immunology (CLIA 05D0969871). The core's laboratory offers extensive tests and services, including PCR diagnostic assays for viral load determinations in plasma and cells, HIV-1 genotypic resistance testing, viral growth and expansion including CD8 T cell-depleted ultrasensitive cultures for patients with undetectable plasma viremia, and specimen processing. Core FacultyServicesThe following services are available from the Virology Core.
Please contact the core director or core medical director for additional information. - Virologic support for innovative translational trials to improve the management of HIV disease or its complications
- Develop, validate, and apply innovative or specialized virologic assays that can be used in members' research projects
- Stimulate the inclusion of virologic research in CFAR through consultations and educational initiatives that inform members of recent advances in this field
- Provide mentoring and training of junior investigators and fellows in virologic research
- Provide information to community members to assist in the interpretation and comprehension of research findings
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