Prospective clinical trials provide valuable information about efficacy and side effects of antiretroviral therapies among specific groups of patients observed for relatively short periods of time.

Observational studies using clinical practice cohorts such as CNICS can provide information about outcomes and complications of antiretroviral treatment among the diverse population of HIV-infected patients that complements what is learned from clinical trials.

CNICS investigators have leveraged their unique positions at the participating Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) sites, their scientific expertise in HIV care, clinical trials, translational research, clinical outcomes research and the maturation of their local EMRs to develop the CNICS scientific agenda. With the release of the IEDEA cohort RFA, the CNICS Principal Investigators revised the scientific agenda to focus more specifically on questions that can only, or best, be addressed by CNICS.

The key features of CNICS that facilitate unique research opportunities include the presence of specimen repositories with samples linked to clinical patient data at each site, the implementation of standardized questionnaires to assess: adherence; quality of life; date/time of last dose of ARV drugs; body composition (based on the FRAM study); sexual and substance use risk behaviors; and depression / mental health status. When combined with highly detailed, quality assured clinical data captured in real-time at the point-of-care and the addition of resistance data, CNICS clearly becomes a valuable international resource for collaborative cutting edge clinical, translational and basic research.