AIMS

The Center for Interdisciplinary Research to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (CIRAR) was originally funded in 2004 with a planning grant from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH (Grant number: P20 RR020616).  Since 2007, a total of 14 projects affiliated with CIRAR have been externally funded.  In 2007 and 2008, five projects affiliated with CIRAR were funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, NIH and two were funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;  (Click here to download the funding announcement).  In 2009, four additional CIRAR-affiliated projects have been funded: an AHRQ Conference Grant, an IICTR CaMPR award funded by the NCRR, a 5-year R01 funded by the NIAID, and a 2-year RC1 Challenge Grant funded by the NCHMD. CIRAR continues to prepare biomedical researchers and others in interdisciplinary research with a focus on the prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance.

What Does CIRAR Do?

The overall mission of CIRAR is to reduce antimicrobial resistance through innovative interdisciplinary research.  CIRAR serves as an umbrella coordinating center to foster and sustain a community of interdisciplinary scholars engaged in such research.

In addition to the aims of specific CIRAR projects, the Center SPECIFIC AIMS are to:

Researchers from all disciplines as well as trainees committed to developing research skills congruent with the aims of CIRAR are encouraged to become involved in the activities of the Center.  Activities include monthly symposia, interdisciplinary courses, and training opportunities.  CIRAR also provides infrastructure to researchers committed to developing interdisciplinary research teams and preparing grant proposals for funding.  We encourage graduate students to develop theses and dissertation projects in collaboration with our funded, senior researchers and/or to seek consultation from core staff for interdisciplinary projects related to the reduction of antimicrobial resistance.

Affiliated funded projects at Columbia University Medical Center under the rubric of CIRAR currently include the following:

Projects Funded in 2009

RC1 MD004109, Appropriate Care of URI in Children of Latino Immigrants: The ACURI Project
PI:  Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

R01 AI082536, Risk Factors for Spread of Staphylococcus aureus in Prisons
Co-PIs: Franklin D. Lowy, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Division of Infectious Diseases, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing

Improving Health Literacy Regarding URI in Families in Home Visitation Programs
Co-PIs: Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Marina Catallozzi, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

R13 HS018099, CMS Changes in Reimbursement for HAIs: Setting a Research Agenda
PI: Patricia W. Stone, RN, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing
Co-PIs: Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research; Sherry Glied, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management; Lisa Saiman, MD, MPH, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics

Projects Funded in 2008

Improving Appropriate Use of Antibiotics for URI in Children of Recently Immigrated Latinos
Co-PIs: Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Marina Catallozzi, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University and Assistant Professor of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Thrasher Research Fund--New Researcher Award, Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Organisms in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Neonates: A Pilot Study
PI: Sameer J. Patel, MD, Clinical Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center; Mentor: Lisa Saiman, MD, MPH, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University

R01 NR010821, Improving Antimicrobial Prescribing Practices in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
PI: Lisa Saiman, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University

TS-1431 (5 U50 CD3000-860-21), Impact of Automated Surveillance on MRSA Isolation
PI: Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

Projects Funded in 2007

R01 CI000537, Applied Research in Antimicrobial Resistance: Studies of Susceptibility Testing on Gram-negative Multidrug Resistant Organisms
PI: Lisa Saiman, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University

T90 NR010824, Training in Interdisciplinary Research to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance (TIRAR)
Program Co-Directors: Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Richard Kessin, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University

R01 NR010822, Distribution of the Costs of Antimicrobial Resistant Infections
PI: Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, Professor of Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Research, Columbia University School of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University

R21 NR010823, Electronic Communication for Antimicrobial Management (ECAM)
PI: Leanne Currie, RN, DNSc, Columbia University School of Nursing

R01 NR010107 Prevention of Nosocomial Infections and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (P-NICE)
PI: Patricia W. Stone, RN, PhD, MPH, Columbia University School of Nursing
Visit the P-NICE Web Site

Supported by the
National Institute of Nursing Research/National Institutes of Health