This is an application for a Fogarty International Center K01 International Research Scientist Development Award for Dr. Michael Vinikoor, an infectious diseases physician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Dr. Vinikoor has shown great promise as a young investigator in the area of HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); however, as many in his position, he requires dedicated support to ensure his successful career development. This award will provide Dr. Vinikoor with the necessary support to accomplish the following goals: (1) to become an expert in viral hepatitis, (2) to become an expert in clinical research implementation in resource-constrained settings, (3) to gain additional knowledge and skills in advanced study design and biostatistical methods, and (4) to develop skills in multi- disciplinary, long-distance collaboratin. To achieve these goals, Dr. Vinikoor has assembled a highly experienced mentorship team comprised of Dr. Michael Fried (U.S. Primary Mentor), Professor of Medicine and Director of the Liver Clinic at UNC, Dr. Benjamin Chi (Zambia Primary Mentor), Chief Scientific Officer of Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UNC, as well as three Co-Mentors: Dr. Joseph Eron, expert in clinical and translational HIV research as well as in multi-center international clinical trials, Dr. William Miler, an expert in analytic methods and mentoring young investigators toward research independence, and Dr. Charles van der Horst, an expert in global health and in interdisciplinary research collaborations. Liver disease due to viral hepatitis has become a leading cause of death of HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in upper-income settings. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), an estimated 3 million HIV-infected patients have chronic HBV co-infection. Compared with upper-income settings, the outcomes of HIV/HBV may be different in SSA due to diverse patterns in HBV transmission, environmental exposures, and hepatotoxic co-infections. Leveraging an existing NIH-funded cohort in Zambia, Dr. Vinikoor's supported research will comprise two main components. First, he will assess the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis in patients with HIV/HBV using non-invasive methods including transient elastography. Predictors of fibrosis will assessed including alcohol and herbal medication and co-infections such as schistosomiasis and hepatitis D infection. Then Dr. Vinikoor will measure changes in liver fibrosis during 3 years of longitudinal follow-up and analyze factors that predict improvement in fibrosis, include HIV and HBV viral suppression, patterns of alcohol use, and CD4+ immune recovery. Additional HBV end-points such as hepatocellular carcinoma and liver decompensation will also be ascertained. The studies outlined in this proposal will generate currently unavailable data on the outcomes of these at-risk patients, and will inform and optimize HIV/HBV treatment guidelines for resource-constrained settings. They also provide an ideal training platform for a young investigator seeking to establish a career in HIV/HBV infection and will provide key epidemiologic data needed for future interventional trials in this critical field.

Public Health Relevance

Individuals with HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection are at high risk of liver-related mortality. In sub- Saharan Africa, HIV/HBV is common and yet the antiretroviral therapy outcomes of this group are not well characterized. Knowledge gained from investigation of HIV/HBV can also inform the care of HBV mono- infected patients in resource-constrained settings.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01TW009998-04
Application #
9333461
Study Section
International and Cooperative Projects - 1 Study Section (ICP1)
Program Officer
Bansal, Geetha Parthasarathy
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2019-08-31
Budget Start
2017-09-01
Budget End
2019-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Dionne-Odom, Jodie; Westfall, Andrew O; Nzuobontane, Divine et al. (2018) Predictors of Infant Hepatitis B Immunization in Cameroon: Data to Inform Implementation of a Hepatitis B Birth Dose. Pediatr Infect Dis J 37:103-107
Vinikoor, Michael J; Zyambo, Zude; Muyoyeta, Monde et al. (2018) Point-of-Care Urine Ethyl Glucuronide Testing to Detect Alcohol Use Among HIV-Hepatitis B Virus Coinfected Adults in Zambia. AIDS Behav 22:2334-2339
Chisenga, Caroline C; Musukuma, Kalo; Chilengi, Roma et al. (2018) Field performance of the Determine HBsAg point-of-care test for diagnosis of hepatitis B virus co-infection among HIV patients in Zambia. J Clin Virol 98:5-7
Coffie, Patrick A; Egger, Matthias; Vinikoor, Michael J et al. (2017) Trends in hepatitis B virus testing practices and management in HIV clinics across sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Infect Dis 17:706
Shankalala, Perfect; Jacobs, Choolwe; Bosomprah, Samuel et al. (2017) Risk factors for impaired fasting glucose or diabetes among HIV infected patients on ART in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. J Diabetes Metab Disord 16:29
Vinikoor, Michael J; Sinkala, Edford; Chilengi, Roma et al. (2017) Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Liver Fibrosis Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adults With and Without HBV Coinfection in Zambia. Clin Infect Dis 64:1343-1349
Vinikoor, Michael J; Mulenga, Lloyd; Siyunda, Alice et al. (2016) Association between hepatitis B co-infection and elevated liver stiffness among HIV-infected adults in Lusaka, Zambia. Trop Med Int Health 21:1435-1441
Wandeler, Gilles; Mulenga, Lloyd; Vinikoor, Michael J et al. (2016) Liver fibrosis in treatment-naïve HIV-infected and HIV/HBV co-infected patients: Zambia and Switzerland compared. Int J Infect Dis 51:97-102
Wandeler, Gilles; Mulenga, Lloyd; Hobbins, Michael et al. (2016) Absence of Active Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Clinics in Zambia and Mozambique. Open Forum Infect Dis 3:ofw049
Wandeler, Gilles; Musukuma, Kalo; Zürcher, Samuel et al. (2016) Hepatitis B Infection, Viral Load and Resistance in HIV-Infected Patients in Mozambique and Zambia. PLoS One 11:e0152043

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