The UCSD CFAR International Program will provide support to CFAR members in a number of crucialways, including assistance with establishing federal-wide assurances, translation, development ofprotocols, informed consent forms and surveys, and mentoring of junior investigators who are interested indeveloping a research portfolio in developing countries with high HIV/AIDS burdens. CFAR InternationalProgram support will include funding for foreign investigators who are collaborating with CFAR members toconduct pilot projects in international settings and a Visiting Scholars program.The objectives of the UCSD CFAR International Program are as follows: (1) to provide specializedadministrative services that will enhance currently existing collaborations between the CFAR researchcommunity and investigators working in resource limited settings; (2) to provide developmental funds forthe conduct of HIV/AIDS pilot research projects in resource-limited settings that will facilitate thedevelopment of preliminary data in support of more extensive externally supported research projects andprograms; (3) to provide travel funds for the exchange of scholars and for travel in support of thedevelopment of joint research projects on HIV/AIDS in resource limited settings.To maintain programmatic focus, the CFAR has designated three international settings Brazil, Mexico,and South Africa as the initial cadre of UCSD CFAR International Program locales. These countries werechosen after a careful review in an effort to build on current strengths and to provide diverse locations inresource-limited countries in which collaborative AIDS-related research can be effectively conducted. Thisfocus will be maintained by supporting International Pilot Projects developed in collaboration withinvestigators at institutions in each of the three focus countries.The International Program will provide centralized administrative and logistical support to members of theresearch communities of UCSD and affiliated institutions, including help with administrative and logisticalissues. An International Pilot Project program will provide a mechanism for CFAR members to obtain seedfunds to initiate research projects that can serve as the basis for more extensive subsequent investigations.A Visiting Scholars program will facilitate the exchange of scholars between UCSD and institutions inresource-limited countries affected by HIV. An important goal of the Visiting Scholars program is to traininternational scholars in areas that will enhance their research or training capacity as it relates to HIV/AIDSresearch. We will also implement an Annual Research Day that showcases results arising frominternational research projects undertaken by CFAR members and foreign collaborators. In terms of valueadded,through the provision of Pilot Project funds and the Visiting Scholar program, there will be enhancedcapacity for new collaborations in each of the three focus countries that are expected to lead toindependently funded extramural HIV/AIDS research grants. By hiring a dedicated International Programcoordinator, our program will create efficiencies in administrative services that typically represent the ratelimitingsteps in launching research projects in international settings. Through our Annual Research Day,our program will increase the visibility of our CFAR's ongoing international research and help disseminatethis research in a manner that is timely and of interest to both local and international communities andpolicymakers.
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