The CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) was funded in 2006 as an R24 award to provide a research infrastructure to support HIV clinical outcomes and comparative effectiveness research. The objective of CNICS is to integrate clinical data from the large and diverse population of HIV-infected persons in the modern HAART era who are receiving care at CFAR sites. The CNICS project, which is the first EMR-based resource network of its kind, provides a unique opportunity to investigate questions related to HIV disease management that cannot be readily addressed through traditional randomized controlled clinical trials and other cohort studies. The routine collection of Patient Based Metrics information on all patients seen at the CNICS sites is unique and sets CNICS apart. Investigators with expertise in basic, clinical, translational, epidemiology and medical informatics are collaborating on the CNICS project.

A key unique and invaluable feature of the CNICS consortium is the access to biological specimens directly linked to the rich CNICS database that represents the diversity of patients within the CNICS population. The ability to link clinical data to specimens evaluated in basic science laboratories is at the heart of genuine translational research studies. Of the patients that currently make up the CNICS database, samples have been collected to date on approximately 7,100 unique patients. Specimens are available for use, the majority of which are plasma specimens and cell pellets. PBMCs are also available. Specimens may be requested by submission of a formal concept proposal for review. Queries regarding available specimens may be made to the CNICS Operations Center or to any member of the CNICS leadership. Investigators are responsible for all processing and shipping costs associated with specimens.