Increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has led to decreases in mortality rates. The WHO estimates that 1.7 million deaths were attributable to HIV in 2011 with the majority caused by co-infecting pathogens. Despite a strong initial response to the HIV epidemic, Uganda still has a prevalence rate of 7.2% among adults aged 15-49 according to UNAIDS. Many patients still present late in infection and often co-infected with opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis (TB) and cryptococcal meningitis. Viral hepatitis (B & C) co-infection occurs in 2-10% of HIV-infected individuals and present challenges in terms of best anti-viral treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. As HIV-infected patients live longer on ART, viral hepatitis related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma which are accelerated by HIV infection will dominate as causes of death in the virally suppressed. The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda is a Research Center of Excellence and has already established research programs in HIV co-infections under the previous Head of Research (Y. Manabe, Program Director). The current Head of Research (A. Kambugu, Ugandan Program Director) has worked closely with Dr. Manabe for the last 5 years when he was Head of Clinical Services. Basic descriptive epidemiology has already been published in these focal areas at the IDI by rigorously trained PhD students who have been successfully awarded doctoral degrees and who are capable of original scientific investigation. The overarching objective of the program is to train Ugandans to perform locally relevant research in the area of HIV co-infections including tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and viral hepatitis. This IDI research context and mentorship model will support post-doctoral researchers at the IDI to become fully independent; capable of writing grants and expanding research interests to prevention, improved models of care, new diagnostics evaluations, advanced biostatistical methodology to analyze longitudinal cohorts, and translational basic science research in Uganda through overseas rotations. Four Masters students will be trained at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in topical areas for which courses are not available at Makerere College of Health Sciences such as health economics, health systems, and translational, basic research in the co-infections listed above. Three Ugandan Masters' students per year will also be supported to fill the pipeline with new researchers. At the end of this 5-year training program, our overarching objective is to solidify a core group of productive, independent scientists who can garner outside funding, continue to mentor others, and be recognized as international, regional leaders in the area of HIV co-infections.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed partnership training program for the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda will train Post-Doctoral Fellows, PhD, and Masters Students who will be mentored by a deep pool of dedicated local and international faculty who have previously engaged in funded, published research in HIV co-infections (tuberculosis, cryptococcal meningitis, and viral hepatitis), regionally relevant research areas for Uganda. At the end of this 5-year training program, our overarching objective is to solidify a core group of productive, independent scientists who can garner outside funding, continue to mentor others, and be recognized as international, regional leaders who are able to influence policy and practice in the area of HIV co-infections.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
5D43TW009771-02
Application #
8857332
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-AARR-H (57))
Program Officer
Mcdermott, Jeanne
Project Start
2014-06-01
Project End
2019-03-31
Budget Start
2015-04-01
Budget End
2016-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$285,538
Indirect Cost
$15,679
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
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Nabaggala, Maria Sarah; Parkes-Ratanshi, Rosalind; Kasirye, Ronnie et al. (2018) Re-engagement in HIV care following a missed visit in rural Uganda. BMC Res Notes 11:762
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Nakiyingi, Lydia; Nakanwagi, Prossy; Briggs, Jessica et al. (2018) Performance of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in a high prevalence TB/HIV rural setting in Uganda. BMC Infect Dis 18:87
Katwesigye, Elizabeth; Seremba, Emmanuel; Semitala, Fred et al. (2017) Low sero-prevalence of hepatitis delta antibodies in HIV/ hepatitis B co-infected patients attending an urban HIV clinic in Uganda. Afr Health Sci 17:974-978
Ssempijja, Victor; Nakigozi, Gertrude; Chang, Larry et al. (2017) Rates of switching to second-line antiretroviral therapy and impact of delayed switching on immunologic, virologic, and mortality outcomes among HIV-infected adults with virologic failure in Rakai, Uganda. BMC Infect Dis 17:582
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Sekaggya-Wiltshire, C; von Braun, A; Scherrer, A U et al. (2017) Anti-TB drug concentrations and drug-associated toxicities among TB/HIV-coinfected patients. J Antimicrob Chemother 72:1172-1177
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