Core A: Administrative

Director: Savita Pahwa, M.D.

Dr. Pahwa, professor of microbiology and immunology, pediatrics, and medicine serves as the Miller School’s director of the HIV Pathogenesis Program. She is trained in clinical and laboratory immunology and has held numerous scientific and administrative leadership positions.

Dr. Pahwa has been involved in HIV/AIDS treatment and research from the beginning of the epidemic and was one of the first to describe the spectrum of clinical and immunological defects in pediatric patients with HIV disease in the Journal of American Medical Association. As director of UM D-CFAR, Dr. Pahwa is responsible for guiding, facilitating, and coordinating an experienced team of investigators and has executive responsibility for the overall center administration and scientific direction with guidance of the advisory bodies.

Savita Pahwa, M.D.
Professor, Microbiology & Immunology; Pediatrics, and Medicine
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, BCRI 712
1580 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
Phone: (305) 243 7732/7733

Co-Director: Margaret Fischl, M.D.

Dr. Fischl, professor of medicine and director, AIDS Clinical Research Unit, brings a depth of expertise in the clinical and therapeutic aspects of HIV and established knowledge of the University and the community. She has more than 20 years of experience in directing a large multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS research program that brings together faculty across multiple departments within the University.

As the director of the unit since 1986, she has been responsible for the implementation of the program, the development of policies and procedures for the conduct of HIV/AIDS clinical trials, and identifying and prioritizing individual clinical trials and research projects.

In her role as administrative associate director, Dr. Fischl will ensure that the scientific direction of the D-CFAR is pointed at the greatest challenges in clinical HIV disease and that the D-CFAR members are in compliance with all regulatory matters related to conduct of clinical studies.

Margaret A. Fischl, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Professor of Medicine
Director, AIDS Clinical Research Unit
University of Miami School of Medicine
1800 NW 10th Avenue (R-60A)
Miami, FL 33136
Ph: 305-243-3847
Fax: 305-545-6705
email: mfischl@med.miami.edu

The administrative core provides leadership for development of a sound infrastructure that enhances ongoing AIDS research. The core also develops quality scientific programs and promotes scientific communication and collaboration within UM and with other HIV/AIDS research networks, institutions, industry, and international sites.

The core’s specific responsibilities are to establish D-CFAR annual strategic plan and coordinate committees.

Core A also develops policies and procedures for:

• Decision-making process (governance)
• Reporting processes (structure and organizational chart)
• Needs assessment and selection of basic and clinical cores
• Advisory Committee Guidelines
• Human subject protection as per institutional requirements