The Leadership and Operations Center (LOC)

The HPTN LOC is responsible for the Network’s scientific agenda and plays a key role in all phases of science generation and protocol development and study implementation. LOC staff are responsible for facilitating and managing the scientific agenda and research operations of the HPTN, including research plan development, concept and protocol review and approval, study conduct and publication/dissemination of results. The LOC staff is also responsible for logistical and administrative support of all Network activities for the HPTN Executive Committee (EC), Science Committees (SC), Working Groups (WG), and selected committees. Staff from the LOC work closely with the HPTN leadership; protocol teams; staff from the Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC), Leadership Committee (LC), and Clinical Trial Units (CTUs)/Clinical Research Sites (CRSs); Division of AIDS (DAIDS) and NIH; the SCs and WGs; and CTU/CRS community programs on all aspects of the HPTN research program. The LOC is based at FHI 360 in Durham, North Carolina.

 The Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC)

The HPTN SDMC is responsible for helping to shape the network’s scientific agenda and plays a key role in all phases of science generation, protocol development and study implementation. The SDMC is responsible for all aspects of data collection, reporting, and statistical analysis for HPTN trials following the principles of Good Clinical Data Management Practices (GCDMP) as well as Good Clinical Practices (GCP). The SDMC manages the HPTN study databases and guides protocol teams on both the statistical components of study design and the collection and analyses of study data. The SDMC for the HPTN is the Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention (SCHARP) located at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC, Fred Hutch) in Seattle, Washington.

 The Laboratory Center (LC)

The HPTN LC is responsible for helping to shape the network’s scientific agenda and plays a key role in all phases of science generation, protocol development and study implementation. The LC oversees all laboratory activities including specimen collection, testing, and reporting of results for testing performed at HPTN CRSs. The HPTN LC also performs Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) testing and specialized testing for HPTN protocols to advance the scientific agenda of the network. The LC evaluates and validates assays for use in HPTN protocols and develops novel assays and laboratory methods to achieve study objectives. The LC assists in the development and quality assessment of CRSs, including building laboratory expertise and capacity at non-US CRSs, primarily in resource-limited settings. The LC plays a leadership role in cross-network activities by updating, harmonizing and streamlining laboratory procedures used in other networks and groups. The LC is centralized at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

  The HPTN Modelling Centre

The HPTN Modelling Centre, part of the SDMC, is a collaboration between the Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at Imperial College London and SCHARP. The Centre supports HPTN research activities, clinical trials, product development, and future HPTN research directions by conducting mathematical modelling studies to: 1) Understand the dynamics and drivers of HIV epidemics, 2) Assess the impact of HIV interventions, 3) Inform the design, conduct, interim, final analysis of trials, 4) Explore innovative lines of investigation, and 5) Improve mathematical models and study designs.