The present application is requesting the transition of the Developmental CFAR at the University of Miami (UM) to a full CFAR (the Miami CFAR) in a city that is at the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the past 4 years we have made tremendous progress in our funding research base, backed by an extraordinary level of Institutional commitment that is reflected in high level recruitments and significant financial support. We are now ready to be recognized as a fully functional CFAR, with a clear research mission geared towards the prevention, treatment and ultimately, the cure of HIV/AIDS. The six broad aims of the Miami CFAR will be to 1. Provide scientific and administrative leadership that coordinates UM's AIDS research capabilities and focuses resources on scientific areas of research (SAR) that represent our scientific strengths and address the most important research issues in the field. The Miami CFAR will focus on Drug Abuse and Prevention; HIV Vaccines and Immunology; HIV and Women & Co-morbidities; Therapeutics and Prevention; HIV/SIV molecular biology, immune- and neuropathogenesis and lastly, AIDS Malignancies, which is now a Scientific Working Group. 2. Develop an infrastructure of appropriate need-based and efficiently run Cores that support the research of HIV/AIDS investigators. These Cores are Administrative, Developmental, Clinical Sciences, Laboratory Sciences and Behavioral/Social Sciences/Community Outreach. 3. Provide training, education and research opportunities to junior investigators to help them maintain a successful career path in HIV/AIDS research. 4. Engage and inform our community. 5. Maximize CFAR research capabilities through leveraging institutional resources and beyond, with leading facilities including the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) in Port St. Lucie and with our State Health Department to enhance the collective expertise of our CFAR. 6. Utilize our expertise to develop initiatives that promote collaboration with other CFARs, Industry, Institutional, National, and International programs towards achieving the NIH CFAR mission. The Miami CFAR will play to the research strengths contained within the institution and accelerate the pace of research at UM, so that we can truly make a mark towards elimination of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.