Nominations for New Members for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Working Group on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission in the United States

The HHS Working Group on Treatment of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Prevention of Perinatal Transmission in the United States (the Perinatal Guidelines Working Group) is accepting nominations for new pediatric members with clinical research and/or practice expertise in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) to serve a 3-year term, with an option of renewal of membership at the end of the term.

The Perinatal Guidelines Working Group, a Working Group of the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (OARAC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is composed of approximately 25 members who are clinicians, researchers, academicians, and HHS representatives with expertise in management of pregnant HIV-infected women (with training in either obstetrics/gynecology or women's health) and interventions to prevent MTCT (such as pediatric specialists in HIV infection), as well as community representatives with knowledge of HIV infection in pregnant women and interventions to prevent MTCT. The Working Group meets monthly via teleconference and on occasion in a face-to-face meeting to review and critically evaluate emerging scientific data relating to antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women and interventions to prevent MTCT. The members actively engage in the preparation and update of the "Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States", which appears as a Living Document on the http://AIDSinfo.nih.gov Web site. This document is widely used by HIV practitioners and researchers in the United States.

Working Group members are not compensated for their time commitment and travel support is not provided for participation.

The Working Group is currently seeking nominations for new pediatric members with expertise in the area of prevention of mother-to-child transmission who will work with other Panel members in critically evaluating new information and preparing revisions to the Perinatal Guidelines. The candidates should have scientific expertise related to prevention of HIV MTCT (with training in pediatrics related to HIV) as evidenced by meaningful contributions to peer review journals related to these areas, participation in perinatal clinical research networks, receipt of NIH funding related to prevention of HIV MTCT as principal or co-principal investigator, and/or clinical expertise in pediatrics related to prevention of MTCT and management of pregnant HIV-infected women as evidenced by more than 5 years experience in the field of HIV and ongoing participation in the clinical care of HIV-infected pregnant women and/or children, and recognition of clinical expertise by peers (such as certification by HIV Medical Association/Infectious Disease Society of America; membership on HIV-related committees of the American Academy of Pediatrics; consultant to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or World Health Organization on pediatric HIV-related issues). Because these are guidelines focused on management of HIV-infected pregnant women and prevention of MTCT for the United States, candidates must be from the United States. Candidates should be willing to dedicate the necessary time to participate on the Working Group--minimum of monthly conference calls and willingness to actively write revisions. The successful candidates shall serve a 3-year term.

The nomination should include a curriculum vitae and a letter of nomination or letter of interest outlining what qualities and contributions the candidate may bring to the Panel. Please submit nominations electronically no later than May 12, 2008 to Lynne M. Mofenson, M.D., Executive Secretary, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Blvd, Room 4B11, Rockville, MD 20852, Fax: 301-496-8678; email: LM65D@nih.gov or Lynne.Mofenson@nih.hhs.gov.