UCLA/Thai MoPH Epidemiology Training Program on AIDS

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管泰国的艾滋病毒感染率最近在一般人群中有所下降，但在吸毒者（20%以上）、男男性行为者（8-22%）和性工作者（直接性工作者中占7%，街头步行者中占21%）中的水平仍然很高。有很大比例需要治疗的感染者（目前设定为350 mm3 CD4细胞）仍未接受治疗，新发现的感染者中有很大比例的CD4水平已经很低。泰国公共卫生部目前正在实施一项新的战略，即基于区域的监测系统，这将需要扩大其研究能力并产生更准确的战略信息。加州大学洛杉矶分校流行病学系建议，通过一系列国内课程以及先进研究方法方面的短期和长期培训，协助泰国公共卫生部流行病学司实现区域监测系统的目标，以提高研究能力。因此，我们建议在加州大学洛杉矶分校培养4名硕士研究生，2名博士研究生和3名短期博士后。学位候选人将在泰国教师的监督下进行他们的论文和学位论文的实地研究。将在泰国开设的短期课程包括传播公共卫生信息的战略、实施社区干预方案的战略、疾病负担建模、干预战略评估、用于数据收集的移动电话和互联网技术、方案监测、对工作人员的协调和监督，以及基于证据的行为干预。加州大学洛杉矶分校项目的候选人将由泰国教师根据其学术记录、对艾滋病毒和公共卫生研究的承诺以及促进泰国人健康的意愿推荐（我们之前的所有学员都已返回泰国）。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although the prevalence of HIV in Thailand has been declining recently among the general population, the level remains high among drug users (20%+), MSM (8-22%) and sex workers (7% among direct sex workers and 21% among street walkers). A high proportion of infected individuals in need of treatment (currently set at 350 mm3 CD4 cells) still do not receive treatment, and a high proportion of newly identified individuals already have low CD4 levels. The Thai Ministry of Public Health is now implementing a new strategy, the Area-Based Surveillance System, which will require expanding their research capacity and to generating more accurate strategic information. Through a series of in-country courses and short- and long- term training in advanced research methodologies, the UCLA Department of Epidemiology proposes to assist the Division of Epidemiology of the Thai Ministry of Public Health to achieve the goals of the Area-Based Surveillance System to enhance research capacity. Thus, we propose to train four M.S. candidates, two Ph.D. candidates, and three short-term postdoctoral trainees at UCLA. The degree candidates will conduct their field research for their theses and dissertations in Thailand under the supervision of the Thai faculty members. The short courses to be given in Thailand include strategies for communicating public health messages, strategies for implementing community intervention programs, modeling for disease burden, assessment of intervention strategies, mobile phone and internet technologies for data collection, program monitoring, coordination and supervision of staff, and evidence-based behavioral interventions. Candidates for the UCLA-based programs will be recommended by the Thai faculty on the basis of their academic records, commitment to HIV and public health research, and intention to promote the health of Thais (all of our previous trainees have returned to Thailand).