about us

In an effort to enhance partnerships between community members and HIV researchers and support the development and sustainability of CFAR community advisory partnerships, the National CFAR CAB Coalition (N3C) was created in May of 2011. The goals of the N3C are to increase collaborations between community and HIV researchers through community-based participatory research (CBPR) and other collaborative projects, to mentor current and new CFAR community advisory partnerships and their constituents in research and funding processes, and to increase community influence on HIV research priorities and agendas. The N3C is in a unique position to institutionalize community and research collaborations in all areas of HIV research at the local, regional, and national level.   


Our Mission

The National CFAR CAB Coalition (N3C) represents the Centers for AIDS Research (CFAR) as a national community advisory group of key community stakeholders in HIV research. It provides both a resource for community engagement and involvement in national CFAR initiatives, as well as provides recommendations and consultation regarding all research and initiatives, both current and future. The N3C serves as a resource for the creation, development, and sustainability of CFAR CABs and advocates for all research initiatives, both on the national and international level, to ensure that all research is community-based and reflects the populations and the needs of the communities the CFARs serve.


How We Achieve our mission

  • To provide expertise on community ideas and concerns at National CFAR meetings.

  • To advocate that all present and future CFARs have an active community advisory partnership.

  • To provide recommendations and consultation regarding future cross-CFAR initiatives, e.g.: Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Planning (ECHPP), and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Network (SBSRN)

  • To provide community input on RFA development of CFAR grants, e.g., Developmental Awards and New Investigator Awards.

  • To advocate for additional resources for CFAR and CAB community-based research at the national level.

  • To centralize consultation services and resources for individual CFAR community advisory partnerships in the following areas: 

    • Community outreach and engagement (inclusive of international settings)

    • Membership recruitment, training, and retention

    • Interaction between community and CFAR researchers

      Communication platforms

    • Review of research design, protocol, implementation and dissemination

    • Funding sources.



Our Structure

Since our inception in 2011 at the University of Pennsylvania, we have realized growth –both in terms of the number of CFAR sites represented and the number of delegates who attend our annual meetings.   

We recognize that organizational structure is a key component of effectively managing our growth and other processes, and ensuring we meet our identified purposes.

Our Coalition is organized into committees –which align our deliverables to those Coalition members who either identify their interest, or who provide a specific skill-set or have the experience needed to ensure the committees meet their goals.

Currently, we have six Standing Committees:

  • Mission & Operating Procedures

    Chair: George S. Kerr III

  • Mentoring, Training, & Sustaining CABs 

    Chair: Paul Goulet

  • Community & Scientific Engagement 

    Chair: Danielle C. Alcéna-Stiner

  • CFARs/NCCC Annual Meeting Planning

    George S. Kerr III, Steve Dellinger

  • Budget/Finance

    Chair: Daiquiri Robinson

  • Communications

    Chair: César Cadabes