The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) is an ongoing prospective study of the natural and treated histories of HIV-1 infection in homosexual and bisexual men conducted by sites located in Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. From April 1984 through March 1985, 4954 men were enrolled; an additional 668 men were enrolled from April 1987 through September 1991. The cohort reopened enrollment to enhance research efforts in the current era of effective therapies. Data and specimens collected at semiannual visits include: detailed questions covering sexual practices, HIV related symptoms, and utilization of health services, demographic and psychosocial characteristics, a quality of life survey, a physical examination, a detailed form on medications used as prophylaxis and/or treatment, a neuropsychological screening and examination, blood samples to measure hematologic variables, including a complete enumeration of T-cell subsets and viral load measurements, and the allocation of samples to be sent to the National Repository. These specimens are invaluable for helping to understand the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.

The Central Operations and Data Coordinating Center (CODCC) displays the new ACSR conference and trade show booth. The attractive display highlights the various services that ACSR offers including the new HIVbase software.

The ASCResource is proud to announce that it now has specimens representing pheresed patients with HIV and malignancies before and after therapy. These lymphocyte products are available to allow investigators to study immune response before and after therapy.

For more information on this collection and others like it, contact the ACSResource Central Operations and Data Coordinating Center.

The ACSResource has received a total of 112,366 serum samples collected in Thailand between March 1998 and July 2000. This collection allows investigators an opportunity to evaluate Clade E HIV variation in a Thai population, mostly untreated, over a 2 year time period. Approximately 15 serial specimens from 160 HIV+ individuals over this time period are available for genetic and serologic analyses. In addition, a large number of specimens from a relatively matched cohort of HIV negative individuals from the same region of Thailand is also available. Detailed epidemiologic information is available from the entire Thai cohort for addressing questions that appear to be unique to AIDS in Thailand.

Detailed demographic data is also available for most subjects, including, gender, age, ethnic background, education, occupation, and marital status. Subjects are 39% male and 61% female, ranging in age from 22 to 56.

For more information on this collection and others like it, contact the ACSResource Central Operations and Data Coordinating Center.

The AIDS and Cancer Specimen Bank (ACSB) has changed its name to AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR). This change follows a strategic reconfiguration of the ACSR’s operations and more accurately reflects the expansion of its services to researchers. The ACSR has been operating as the country’s leading nationwide, soon international, multi-site collection program that includes a “bank” of specimens for investigators in such fields as HIV/AIDS and related cancer and virology. Going forward ACSR will also act as an advocate for researchers by seeking out in their behalf materials not currently in ACSR’s possession.

About ACSR. The National Cancer Institute-funded AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR) is the country’s leading nationwide multi-site source for well documented tissue and biological samples serving investigators working in the fields of HIV/AIDS and related cancer, virology, immunology, pathology, epidemiology, tumor biology, assay development, as well as others. ACSR is a repository for HIV-infected human materials from a wide spectrum of HIV-related and/or associated-disease, including cancer, and from appropriate HIV-negative controls. In addition to operating its large existing specimen bank, the ACSR, upon request, searches for and acquires specimens not currently in the bank to meet the special needs of approved investigations. A description of the ACSR, available specimens, how to request specimens, as well as contact information, are available on the Web at http://acsr.ucsf.edu.

Newly funded for the next five years by the National Cancer Institute, ACSR expands its existing specimen program with a broadened scope of collection, new technologies, and a new central coordinating office at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) which manages central database functions, application processing and outreach activities. The office will also address human subject research issues relevant to its services. In addition to UCSF, ACSR sites include George Washington University, and Ohio State University and collaborative sites to network internationally.