Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The CAC is an external body that facilitates communication and dialogue between the scientific community and society.
Advice on research
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is an external participatory body that was established in 2009 to provide the scientific community with a broad and complementary view on the impact, potential consequences and feasibility of clinical studies and research projects being conducted. The CAC's input contributes to improving the quality of research by better aligning it with the needs and expectations of the affected community.
To this end, the CAC facilitates reflection, dialogue, co-creation, advice and dissemination among different professionals working in the context of the HIV-affected community and, from 2023, the CAC will be expanded to also respond to other pathologies, such as COVID-19 or monkeypox.
Team
Who drives it
IrsiCaixa, in collaboration with the Fight Infections Foundation, the Barcelona Public Health Agency and the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Who is part of the CAC
Membership of the CAC is on a personal basis. It is composed of the scientific community, health care professionals, public health policy makers and professionals working in the third sector, in the context of groups of people living with HIV and people at high risk of infection. However, the membership will be expanded as experience with other pathologies is required.
Currently, the professional volunteer team that gathers the plurality of aspects of the reality of HIV from the third sector comes from: Fedelatina, Àmbit Prevenció, Projecte dels Noms-Hispanosida, Afirma’t, Gais positius, Grup de Treball sobre Tractaments del VIH.
Frequency of meetings
The CAC meets at the request of any of the members.
Mission and functions
The CAC provides non-binding advice to the researchers in aspects such as:
- Review of research projects and protocols for clinical trials and studies, often providing changes in the documentation that represent an important improvement for both the participating team and the researchers.
- Editing and validation of information and education documents, recruitment of volunteers and informed consent.
- Advice to improve the impact that the studies can have in different areas (not only at the scientific or clinical level).
- Facilitation of community access to the latest research results and to participate in clinical trials and studies.
- Optionally, participation in research agenda setting processes.