Training Program in Tuberculosis and HIV Research in Ghana

 描述（由申请人提供）：结核病（TB）是加纳人类免疫缺陷病毒（PLHIV）感染者发病和死亡的主要原因。尽管有有效的治疗方法，但结核病是艾滋病毒感染者死亡的主要原因。超过50%的 加纳的艾滋病毒死亡归因于结核病。因此，艾滋病毒感染者的结核病是国家结核病控制规划和国家艾滋病控制规划的一个关键优先事项。加纳结核病和艾滋病毒研究的差距跨越几个学科，包括流行病学，基础，临床，社会，行为和实施科学，以及公共卫生，包括卫生系统和卫生服务研究。因此，一个多学科的研究计划是必要的，以解决尚未回答和新出现的问题，可以改变结核病预防和护理计划。在加纳举行的开发该应用程序的规划会议上，学者、项目管理人员和社区利益攸关方将有限的人力和机构研究能力确定为应对以下领域挑战的主要障碍：结核病预防、病例检测（包括耐多药结核病）、结核病和艾滋病毒服务的整合、新诊断和干预措施的方案推出，以及包括融资在内的卫生服务加强。该提案建立在布朗大学和加纳大学之间长达10年的合作研究基础上，该研究为NIH和USAID提供了资助，并在该领域发表了重要出版物。这项申请的长期目标是加强联合国大学的机构能力， 加纳的多学科研究，重点是解决结核病/艾滋病毒研究的优先事项。这一目标将通过关键学科的研究培训计划来实现。该方案的具体目标是：（1）实施一项长期的研究培训方案，使结核病/艾滋病毒合并感染重点领域的研究人员达到临界质量。根据受训者的需要，将在加纳大学布朗分校或南非选定的大学进行学位和博士后培训。(2)促进和实施基础、临床、社会和实施科学方面的指导研究，以及卫生服务研究，重点是加纳的结核病/艾滋病毒优先事项。(3)实施中期培训，以获得关键的技术专门知识，并与国家结核控制规划和国家艾滋病控制方案合作，在国内举办短期研究培训讲习班，以加强对结核病/艾滋病毒合并感染者的护理。在5年培训期结束时，我们预计将培训博士和硕士学位候选人，博士后研究员和短期学员，他们将开发和实施与加纳结核病和艾滋病毒控制相关的独立高质量研究。最终，学员及其研究合作者的工作将建立一个中心， 加纳大学结核病/艾滋病研究的卓越成就。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Ghana. Despite the availability of effective treatment, TB is the leading cause of death in PLHIV. Over 50% of all HIV deaths in Ghana are attributed to TB. Consequently, TB in PLHIV is a key priority for both the National TB Control Programme (NTP) and National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). The gaps in TB and HIV research in Ghana cross several disciplines including epidemiology, basic, clinical, social, behavioral, and implementation sciences, as well public health including health systems and health services research. Thus, a multidisciplinary research program is necessary to address yet unanswered and emerging questions that could transform TB prevention and care programs. At a planning meeting in Ghana to develop this application, academics, program managers and community stakeholders identified limited human and institutional research capacity as key barriers to address challenges in areas such as: TB prevention, case detection (including multi-drug resistant TB), integration of TB and HIV services, programmatic rollout of new diagnostics and interventions, as well as health services strengthening including financing. This proposal builds on 10 years of collaborative research between Brown and University of Ghana that led to NIH and USAID grant funding, as well as important publications in the field. The long-term goal of this application is to strengthen institutional capacity at the University of Ghana for multidisciplinary research with a focus on addressing TB/HIV research priorities. This goal will be achieved through a mix of research training programs in key disciplines. The specific objectives of the program are: (1) To implement a long-term research training program that will lead to a critical mass of researchers in the focus area of TB/HIV coinfection. Degree and post-doctoral training depending on the needs of the trainee will be undertaken at University of Ghana, Brown or at selected Universities in South Africa. (2) To promote and implement mentored research in basic, clinical, social, and implementation sciences, as well as health services research with a focus on TB/HIV priorities in Ghana. (3) Implement medium-term training to gain key technical expertise, as well as in-country short-term research training workshops in partnership with NTP and NACP leading to enhanced care of persons with TB/HIV coinfection. At the end of the 5-year training period, we expect to train PhD and Masters Degree candidates, postdoctoral fellow and short-term trainees with complimentary expertise who will develop and implement independent high-quality research relevant to TB and HIV control in Ghana. Ultimately, the work of trainees and their research collaborators will establish a center of excellence for TB/HIV research at the University of Ghana.