The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention−Surveillance and Epidemiology

• The Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention−Surveillance and Epidemiology (DHAP−SE) provides national leadership for HIV prevention research and surveillance and the development and testing of effective biomedical interventions to reduce HIV transmission and HIV disease progression in the United States and internationally. The purpose of these activities is to guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based HIV prevention programs serving persons affected by, or at risk for, HIV infection. The five branches that make up DHAP-SE are as follows:

  • The Epidemiology Branch designs and conducts epidemiologic, behavioral, and biomedical intervention studies in the United States and internationally to determine risk factors and modes of transmission of HIV infection and to reduce HIV infection and disease progression.

  • The HIV Incidence and Case Surveillance Branch conducts a national program of surveillance and research to monitor and characterize the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and its determinants and impact, to guide public health action at federal, state, and local levels. This program includes surveillance of HIV infection and AIDS in collaboration with state and local health departments to provide population-based data for research, evaluation, and prevention at the national, state, and local levels.

  • The Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch implements scientifically rigorous HIV research studies and surveillance systems that meet critical local, state, and national HIV prevention needs for characterizing persons who are at risk for HIV infection or who have recently acquired HIV or have HIV-related morbidities. The branch also develops and demonstrates best practices of laboratory and prevention technologies to efficiently move them from development into public health practice.

  • The Laboratory Branch supports DHAP’s goals in HIV prevention as they pertain to clinical studies, viral transmission, diagnosis and incidence and intervention research with microbicides, vaccines, and chemoprophylaxis as well as investigates other human and zoonotic retroviruses. The lab also develops new methodologies for HIV detection, quantification, isolation, evolution, animal modeling, and surveillance, including drug resistance.

  • The Quantitative Sciences and Data Management Branch provides statistical, prevention economics, and informatics support for HIV/AIDS scientific and programmatic activities within the division.