Infectious Disease

Infectious Disease Prevention
Phone: (212) 570-3105
Email: bkoblin@nybloodcenter.org

The Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, headed by Beryl Koblin, PhD, focuses on preventing HIV infection through testing potential HIV vaccines and other preventive interventions. It also has documented the extent of HIV infection in New York through surveys giving epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, health departments and community-based agencies valuable information for planning prevention strategies.

In collaboration with Columbia University, the laboratory takes part in clinical trials of vaccines designed to boost the immune system's ability to fight off HIV infection, working through its two NYC community-based research sites in the South Bronx and at Union Square in Manhattan. 

Community-based researchers at the laboratory are also refining counseling methods to prevent infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among high-risk groups. They have been involved in multiple studies focused on gay men and women at risk to determine whether different counseling approaches can have an impact on reporting of risk behaviors and the occurence of new HIV infections.

The laboratory conducts surveys to understand the epidemiology of HIV infection and other viral infections carried in the blood stream - painting a picture over time of who is infected and at highest risk among most-affected populations. These studies have documented the high HIV infection rates within minority communities in New York and have tracked growing HIV rates among young gay men. The laboratory's efforts have led to increased funding to develop preventive measures and to support community-based organizations providing HIV-related services.