Emory Training Program in Translational Research to End the HIV Epidemic

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Project Abstract In this application entitled `Emory Training Program in Translational Research to End the HIV Epidemic', we propose a new T32 training program focused on translational HIV science located at the epicenter of the US HIV epidemic in the Southern US at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Our training program will provide 2 years of support to 5 post-doctoral fellows and a summer internship opportunity for 2 pre-doctoral under- represented minority (URM) students to conduct cutting-edge HIV research through hands-on experience and formal didactics and also educate trainees on the broader context of HIV research across the translational continuum. Our training program will be fully integrated with and capitalize on the significant HIV research portfolio of the Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and span the spectrum of ongoing HIV research activities in 3 major areas of focus: 1. Laboratory-based basic science, vaccine, and cure research, 2. Patient-centered clinical research, and 3. Public health and implementation science. Our training program will encompass research activities in each of the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities to reduce the incidence of HIV, develop next generation HIV therapeutics, conduct research towards an HIV cure, and address HIV associated co-morbidities, co-infections and complications; but, more importantly, our program will also expose trainees to cross-cutting areas of HIV research and team science to accelerate the translation of discovery into improved health outcomes. We have assembled a team of 35 diverse and experienced mentors across the 3 HIV research focus areas and designed didactic opportunities for our mentees to complement their research projects and expand their understanding of bench to bedside to community translation of HIV research innovation. In addition, the geographic position of our training program located in and surrounded by 4 of the counties named as focus areas for the Department of Health and Human Services Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative further demonstrates the urgency to develop and support the next generation of HIV investigators specifically at our institution. Given the gravity of the HIV epidemic in the South and globally and the new DHHS initiative that proposes to end the US HIV epidemic in the next 10 years, fostering the next generation of translational HIV scientists across the HIV research continuum is of utmost importance. Post-doctoral trainees will emerge from our T32 program ready for scientific independence and with a deep understanding of how their research fits into the multidirectional and multidisciplinary framework of HIV research with the long-term goal of ending the HIV epidemic.