A remarkable milestone was commemorated on Sept. 27 as health experts from a multitude of disciplines from around Brown and Boston University and their affiliated hospitals including successful Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) alumni from all over the country to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Providence/Boston CFAR, based at The Miriam Hospital.
The celebration of the AIDS program took place at a day-long symposium at Brown University, attended by NIH, national experts and representatives of the CFAR partnership -- Lifespan, Brown University and new partners Boston University and Boston Medical Center.
The themes of the symposium include “Celebrating the past 20 years” and “Looking Towards the Future.”
Opening remarks at the symposium were given by Susan Cu-Uvin, MD, director of CFAR, and Arthur Sampson, president of The Miriam. A videotaped welcome from Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was presented.
Additional welcoming remarks were given by Christina Paxson, president of Brown. The keynote address was delivered by Carl Dieffenbach, PhD, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Philip Chan representing the RI Department of Health and Dean Bess Marcus of the Brown School of Public delivered welcome addresses. CFAR alumni who presented their research work were Drs. Bharat Ramratnam, Robert Paul, Awewura Kwara, Aadia Rana, Sabrina Assoumou and Angela Bazzi.
The afternoon was dedicated to “Looking Towards the Future” and included presentations from our Boston University/Boston Medical Center partners. Dr. Ron Corley, the Associate Provost for Research of Boston University gave the welcome remarks followed by presentations by Drs. Jeffery Samet and Karen Jacobson. Paul Goulet represent the Providence/Boston CFAR Community Advocacy Board and emphasized the CFAR’s research collaboration with the community.