Investigation of new and innovative HIV testing programs. This includes HIV testing in non-traditional sites such as correctional facilities, emergency departments, and community-based organizations. This research includes evaluating the implementation of new diagnostic assays such as rapid HIV tests.

Research Description

Dr. Beckwith, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, is actively investigating new and innovative approaches to HIV testing. New strategies of HIV testing are needed given approximately one-third of persons in the United States are unaware of their infection. Dr. Beckwith is exploring the implementation of new HIV testing straegies including: routine testing; opt-out testing; and rapid HIV testing. Each of these strategies has the potential to be implemented in traditional testing sites (such as doctor's offices and hospital) and non-traditional sites (such as prisons & jails, emergency departments & urgent care centers, STD clinics, and substance abuse treatment centers.

Awards

1. Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, Brown Medical School, 2005
2. Rhode Island Chapter ACP-ASIM, Associates Forum Winner. April 2002
"Missed Opportunities for HIV Screening: Patients Diagnosed with HIV in Rhode Island Hospital over a Two-Year Period"

Affiliations

Member, Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2003-Present
Member, Physicians Health Committee, Rhode Island Medical Society, 2002-2003
Member, Rhode Island Medical Society, 2002-Present
Member, American College of Physicians, 1999-Present

Funded Research

Sponsored Projects with Current Funding:

1.Project Name: HIV and Other Infectious Complications of Substance Abuse
a. Award Type: T32 (5T32DA013911-05)
b. Funding Institution: National Institute on Drug Abuse
c. Principal Investigator: Timothy P. Flanigan, MD
d. Role: Post-doctoral trainee
e. % Effort: 100%
f. Yearly Support: $51,036
g. Project Period: 7/1/01-6/30/06
h. Project Description: The goal of this training program is to prepare postdoctoral fellows (physicians and behavioral scientists) for research careers in the cross-disciplinary field of HIV and other infections associated with substance abuse.

2. Project Name: Rapid HIV Testing in Jail and Associated HIV Risk-Behavior Change
a. Award Type: Developmental Grant
b. Funding Institution: Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
c. Principal Investigator: Curt G. Beckwith, MD
d. Role: Primary Investigator
e. % Effort: 5% (No salary associated with effort. Effort concurrent with T32)
f. Yearly Support: $40,000
g. Project Period: 12/1/05-11/30/06
h. Project Description: The objective of this study is to compare standard HIV counseling and testing (C&T) performed in jail with rapid HIV C&T in order to assess differences in HIV risk behavior following release from jail.

3. Project Name: Understanding the Social and Psychological Context of Acute HIV Infection
a. Award Type: Subcontract
b. Funding Institution: Yale University School of Public Health/National Institute of Mental Health
c. Principal Investigator: Kenneth Mayer, MD
d. Role: Site Project Director
e. % Effort: 10% (No salary associated with effort. Effort concurrent with T32)
f. Yearly Support: Concurrent with T32
g. Project Period: 9/30/05-2/28/06
h. Project Description: The objective of the study is to identify persons acutely infected with HIV and perform in-depth behavioral interviews in order to collect data that will subsequently lead to the development of behavioral interventions intended to prevent HIV transmission during acute infection.

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