Executive Committee
The Network’s scientific direction is overseen by an Executive Committee (EC) comprised of internationally recognized experts in the field of HIV prevention research. Under the direction of the HPTN Principal Investigator (PI) as its chair, with the assistance of the NIH Consortium, the EC sets the research priorities of the HPTN and directs its scientific activities. Through its members serving as liaisons to each Scientific Committee (SC), the EC assures that the specific areas of prevention science addressed by the individual SCs are effectively coordinated.
The Executive Committee:
- sets the overall HPTN research agenda
- reviews SC research plans, including the review and prioritization of concept plans across SCs
- based on PM analysis, makes recommendations to NIAID regarding the distribution of resources among the different components of the Network
- through the EC Chair, recommends to NIAID that funds be released for specific protocol implementation
- approves policies and procedures of the HPTN, including the governing structure and membership of standing committees
- establishes key standing Network committees (Science Review Committee, Study Monitoring Committee, Study Operations Group, Performance Evaluation Committee, and Manuscript Review Committee)
- establishes and oversees a Performance Evaluation Committee to formulate performance standards and monitors performance of all participating CTUs, Network governance, and members
The EC, in conjunction with NIH, determines the overall capacity for the HPTN, as well as the capacity of individual CTUs. The EC makes recommendations annually to NIH regarding reallocation of CTUs’ funding increments based on available resources, scientific priorities, site capacity (populations and capabilities), and performance. NIH allocates funding to CTU sites on an annual basis according to past performance and the study protocols each has been selected to implement.
