title: [The Competence Network for HIV/AIDS. Data, Samples, Facts].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With funding for the Competence Networks in Medicine from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Competence Network for HIV/AIDS (KompNet HIV/AIDS) was established as an interdisciplinary research association. Essential working groups were incorporated all over Germany, which are active in clinical and basic HIV/AIDS research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After successful establishment, providing research infrastructure for national and international cooperation in the field of HIV/AIDS was the focus of the network. By bringing together research activities, preconditions are created for improving HIV infection treatment and increasing life expectancy of HIV-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The members of KompNet HIV/AIDS are HIV experts from university clinics, HIV physicians, patient representatives, as well as national reference centers. As a scientific research basis, the network established an HIV patient cohort. Clinical and sociodemographic data of HIV patients were documented biannually and complemented by serum and DNA-samples collected twice per year. Furthermore, a child cohort was set up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the KompNet HIV/AIDS, a research infrastructure for HIV was established for internal, external as well international scientists. Within the HIV cohort a total of 16,500 patients are documented. The associated biobank comprises ~ 56,000 serum samples and ~ 16,000 DNA samples. The child cohort consists of 647 HIV-exposed and 230 infected children. The KompNet HIV/AIDS cohorts became an important partner in several international collaborations. Nevertheless, the maintenance of such infrastructures without public funding is a challenge.
authors.affiliation: Kompetenznetz HIV/AIDS, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland.|Zentrum für Klinische Studien (ZKS) Köln, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michalik
authors.affiliation: Kompetenznetz HIV/AIDS, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skaletz-Rorowski
authors.affiliation: Kompetenznetz HIV/AIDS, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland. n.brockmeyer@derma.de.|Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Gudrunstraße 56, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland. n.brockmeyer@derma.de.
authors.forename: Norbert H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Brockmeyer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Biobank; Competence network for HIV/AIDS; HIV; HIV-cohort; HIV-database