# Bio-Behavioral Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $326,990

## Abstract

BIO-BEHAVIORAL CORE PROJECT SUMMARY
The Bio-Behavioral Core represents an innovative programmatic approach for the UCSF-Bay Area Center for
AIDS Research (CFAR). During our strategic planning process with research, clinical, policy, and community
stakeholders, we identified three critical ways in which our CFAR needed to expand to meet the needs of
investigators and be responsive to NIH HIV-focused research priorities. These three expansions are in the
areas of HIV prevention, substance use research, and assessing biomarkers of behavior, such as objective
metrics for adherence and substance use. First, we now support a diverse cohort of persons on PrEP housed
at our San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) affiliate, which provides infrastructure for a range
of research inquiries (PrEP Cohort). The PrEP cohort collects survey data and specimens on participants on
PrEP (oral and injectable when available) and is nimble for add-on studies from early-stage investigators
(ESIs). Second, we will provide expert consultation on integrating measurement and intervention approaches
that are responsive to significant challenges of substance use in HIV prevention and treatment (Substance Use
Research Program). Harnessing expertise at UCSF and our affiliates, this new Program will address one of the
greatest challenges in HIV prevention and care to try to optimize outcomes. Third, the Bio-Behavioral Core
supports the development, implementation, and analysis of biomarkers of behavior, specifically objective
metrics of adherence and substance use in HIV research (Biomarkers of Behavior Program). This new
program will provide assays and interpretation of these metrics to support the PrEP cohort and the Substance
Use Research Program.
The new Bio-Behavioral Core will work closely with the other Cores and working/interest groups to ensure
efficient use of CFAR resources to address overall Center aims and crosscutting priorities of health
equity/community engagement, international HIV research, and training/career development. The PrEP cohort
uses the same data elements and infrastructure as the SCOPE cohort in the Clinical Core; the Bio-Behavioral
Core components will all support ESIs and investigators from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds
in the Developmental Core; and this Core will work closely with the new Housing and Intersectionality Scientific
Working Groups (SWGs) on structural determinants of health. Collectively, this new Core will provide added
value by addressing previous gaps in the capacity of CFAR investigators to meet emerging challenges of the
HIV epidemic, provide a platform for ESIs to build programs of research, and enable investigators to conduct
community-engaged work aimed at mitigating HIV and related health disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10690754
- **Project number:** 5P30AI027763-32
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** MALLORY O JOHNSON
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $326,990
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-03-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10690754

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10690754, Bio-Behavioral Core (5P30AI027763-32). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10690754. Licensed CC0.

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