UNC Center for AIDS Research

The Goal of the UNC CFAR Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry (CPAC) Core is to Provide Comprehensive Study Design, Bioanalytical, and Data Analyses Support to Animal and Human Clinical Pharmacology Investigations in the HIV/AIDS arena.

CPAC Laboratory Aims:

Provide Leadership to the HIV/AIDS Research Effort In Comprehensive Clinical Pharmacology Research Methods and Bioanalytical Chemistry Methods Development.
Provide Access to Antiretroviral Drug Assays in a Variety of Biological Matrices Including Blood Plasma, Genital Tract Secretions, Breast Milk, and Cerebral Spinal Fluid.
Provide Access to Drug Assays in the Treatment of Opportunistic Infections and Other Complications of HIV Treatment.
Develop Novel Assays On-Demand For CFAR Members As Required to Support Grant Initiatives.
Provide Training Opportunities To CFAR and International Investigators.

The purpose of the Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry (CPAC) Laboratory (Core E) is to provide a centralized unit to facilitate the pharmacological and analytical studies of HIV/AIDS related clinical, translational, and basic science research at UNC-CH and at our collaborating institutions, and to establish collaboration with AIDS investigators at other national and international institutions.

We bring together a group of established investigators, collaborators, and advisors in pharmacology, analytical chemistry, and related fields. These investigators are knowledgeable in modern clinical pharmacology approaches and pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic analyses, and oversee a modern and well-equipped, composite analytical laboratory.

The services provided to the HIV/AIDS investigators by Core E include pharmacologic consultation and support for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigations; development of validated bioanalytical methods for sample analysis, and analysis and interpretation of pharmacologic results.

All analyses are conducted in a CLIA-certified, state of the art analytical laboratory that includes high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet, flourescence and mass spectroscopy detection. The availability of this facility has stimulated new and important HIV/AIDS related drug research, funding, and interdisciplinary collaborations. The laboratory is centrally located in the UNC School of Pharmacy, with convenient access for the HIV/AIDS investigators at UNC-CH.

The focus of research in the laboratory is to understand and predict complex drug interactions, optimize drug dosing in special patient populations (eg pregnant women), and to understand and optimize the pharmacology of oral and topical antiretroviral medications for preventing HIV transmission. To this end, we have developed optimal methods to quantitate drug concentrations in multiple biological matrices including blood, genital secretions, and breast milk.

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