This proposed training program builds on the successes and lessons of the previous 14 years to meet the new emerging and evolving challenges of a maturing HIV epidemic in southern Africa, the epicenter of the global HIV pandemic. The 125 long-term and 186 short-term trainees of the current program continue to have a major impact through their leadership roles globally and locally, as their research generates new knowledge in areas such as HIV pathogenesis in acute HIV infection, new prevention technologies (including antiretrovirals to prevent breastfeeding transmission, vector-based HIV vaccines and antiretroviral microbicides), and new approaches to treating HIV-TB co-infection. The trainees have published 894 peer- reviewed papers including several in high impact journals like Science, Nature and the Lancet. The emergence of HIV-associated drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), the implementation of the largest AIDS treatment program in the world and the dire need for evidence to guide decision-making as South Africa transitions from its denialist past to a politically enlightened future under a new Minister of Health, have created a set of new challenges and opportunities for the next cycle of this program. Building on the substantive science base, extensive research infrastructure and local expertise created through this program, the rich tapestry of in-country AIDS and TB studies, the strategic collaborations within and outside South Africa, and the new opportunities to leverage funding from other agencies, the proposed program will continue to identify trainees with the most potential, offer them high quality training both in South Africa and the USA and provide them with ongoing support to create a critical mass for an effective response to the HIV and TB epidemics in southern Africa. The proposed program sets about this task well armed with the most valuable lessons learnt in the past decade such as the importance of long-term in-country mentorship, ongoing training in grant writing and administration, strategic partnering to maximize training opportunities, recruitment of candidates in consultation with local productive research groups and the value of having joint USA and South African faculty in raising the standard of in-country training. Guided by the ongoing assessment of training priorities and with careful oversight from a balanced US- SA Training Advisory Committee, that includes several previous trainees who are now senior investigators, we will continue to provide, as appropriate, a variety of short-to-medium, and long-term training opportunities in the USA, South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho. The emphasis of the program in the next cycle is to i) address critical training gaps in existing HIV and TB centers of research excellence in South Africa to meet the new emerging challenges in the HIV epidemic, ii) provide support and mentorship for young investigators, especially medical students, and iii) provide the training critical to the efforts of South African AIDS research to transition from the current reliance on multicenter studies to a more sustainable balanced portfolio with increased levels of investigator-initiated research. The goal is to strengthen and expand the existing number of independent HIV and TB research teams in southem Africa;strengthen local capacity to assume more of the region's training needs and developing the skills needed to assist policy makers with evidence to implement and monitor the scale-up of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.

Public Health Relevance

This program is a critical training resource for strengthening the institutional science base for undertaking pivotal HIV and TB research in the epicenter of the HIV pandemic to enhance responses to the HIV and TB epidemics in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
2D43TW000231-16
Application #
7916950
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ICP2-B (52))
Program Officer
Mcdermott, Jeanne
Project Start
1993-06-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$731,474
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
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Garrett, Nigel; Norman, Emily; Leask, Kerry et al. (2018) Acceptability of Early Antiretroviral Therapy Among South African Women. AIDS Behav 22:1018-1024
Naidoo, Anushka; Ramsuran, Veron; Chirehwa, Maxwell et al. (2018) Effect of genetic variation in UGT1A and ABCB1 on moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics in South African patients with tuberculosis. Pharmacogenomics 19:17-29
Dawood, Halima; Hassan-Moosa, Razia; Zuma, Nonhlanhla-Yende et al. (2018) Mortality and treatment response amongst HIV-infected patients 50 years and older accessing antiretroviral services in South Africa. BMC Infect Dis 18:168
Karim, Salim S Abdool; Karim, Quarraisha Abdool; Abimiku, Alash'le et al. (2017) Closing the NIH Fogarty Center threatens US and global health. Lancet 390:451
Scheepers, Cathrine; Chowdhury, Sudipa; Wright, W Shea et al. (2017) Serum glycan-binding IgG antibodies in HIV-1 infection and during the development of broadly neutralizing responses. AIDS 31:2199-2209
Naidoo, Kogieleum; Hassan-Moosa, Razia; Yende-Zuma, Nonhlanhla et al. (2017) High mortality rates in men initiated on anti-retroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. PLoS One 12:e0184124
Wibmer, Constantinos Kurt; Gorman, Jason; Ozorowski, Gabriel et al. (2017) Structure and Recognition of a Novel HIV-1 gp120-gp41 Interface Antibody that Caused MPER Exposure through Viral Escape. PLoS Pathog 13:e1006074

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