Leveraging North-South Partnerships to Advance Cell and Gene Therapy Research Training for HIV in Uganda (C&GT-Uganda)

≈有3,800万艾滋病毒携带者，其中67%在撒哈拉以南非洲。尽管 在抗逆转录病毒疗法(ART)取得成功的情况下，目前还没有获得批准的艾滋病毒疫苗或治愈方法。研究与开发 (研发)基因和细胞疗法已经取得了进展，例如，诱导宿主抗性的创新策略， 针对艾滋病毒的免疫反应性或使宿主细胞无法产生可存活的病毒粒子。持续进行的工作包括 ≈进行了40项临床试验，但没有一项包括非洲。鉴于SSA种群的高度遗传多样性和事实 负担首当其冲的是SSA，关键是SSA应该参与正在进行的研发。2020年， 联合临床研究中心(JCRC)、弗雷德·哈钦森癌症中心(弗雷德·哈奇)和关爱十字 创建了全球基因治疗倡议(GGTI)，将乌干达等低收入和中等收入国家包括在内 在正在进行的艾滋病毒细胞和基因治疗研发中，JCRC的初步评估显示，卫生人力 基因和细胞疗法研发的几乎所有阶段的能力差距，包括转化性研究。这是 乌干达其他一流的研究和高等教育机构也是如此。为了解决这一问题，JCRC已派出 她的科学家在美国接受培训，并在此提出一项D71规划过程，名为利用北方- 促进乌干达艾滋病毒基因和细胞治疗研究培训的南方伙伴关系(G&CT-乌干达) 与Makerere大学(Mak)和Fred Hutch合作。目标是为以下项目准备一份D43申请 JCRC和Mak在基因和细胞治疗方面的艾滋病毒研究培训计划。具体目标1(制定 有效利用JCRC的南北伙伴关系来规划研究培训的强有力的战略计划 艾滋病毒基因和细胞治疗计划)将通过面对面/虚拟会议实现， 与合作机构的领导人进行磋商和举办研讨会。具体目标2(评估危急情况 乌干达机构在艾滋病毒研究的基因和细胞治疗方面的教员发展需求)，以及 目标3(评估对艾滋病毒基因和细胞疗法感兴趣的潜在受训者的培训需求 乌干达的研究)将通过培训需求评估实现，即对当前培训进行案头审查 合作机构的课程、课程、教师和资源；ii)主要线人访谈和关于- 对培训员、招生官员和合作机构的领导进行在线调查；以及三)焦点小组 未来实习生，即本科生和研究生以及Mak和Mbarara之间的讨论 科技大学。具体目标4(描述#年设想的研究培训计划 艾滋病毒的基因和细胞疗法，并确定/开发新的培训模块和课程，以包括)，以及 具体目标5(描述实习生招聘办法)将通过会议、协商实现 与培训者、课程制定者和合作机构的领导人一起举办研讨会。具体目标6 (制定并向国家卫生研究院提交D43申请)将通过每周实现 会议、写作会议和14天的写作务虚会，有C&GT项目的教职员工参加。

There are ≈ 38 million people living with HIV, 67% of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), there is no approved HIV vaccine or cure. Research and development (R&D) of gene and cell therapies has made progress e.g. innovative strategies to induce host resistance, immunoreactivity against HIV or making host cells unable to produce viable virions. On-going efforts include ≈40 clinical trials but none include Africa. Given the high genetic diversity of populations in SSA and the fact that the brunt of the burden is in SSA, it is critical that SSA should be involved in ongoing R&D. In 2020, the Joint Clinical Research Center (JCRC), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch) and Caring Cross founded the Global Gene Therapy Initiative (GGTI) to include low-and-middle income countries e.g. Uganda in ongoing HIV cell and gene therapy R&D. A preliminary assessment at JCRC showed health workforce capacity gaps in almost all stages of R&D of gene and cell therapies including translational research. This is also the case at other premier research and tertiary institutions in Uganda. To address this, JCRC has sent her scientists for training in the US, and hereby propose a D71 planning process titled Leveraging North- South Partnerships to Advance Gene and cell Therapy Research Training for HIV in Uganda (G&CT-Uganda) in collaboration with Makerere University (Mak) and Fred Hutch. The goal is to prepare a D43 application for an HIV research training program in Gene and cell Therapy at JCRC and Mak. Specific Aim 1 (develop a robust strategic plan for efficiently leveraging JCRC’s North-South partnerships to plan for a research training program in Gene and cell Therapy for HIV) will be achieved through face-to-face/virtual meetings, consultations and a workshop with leaders from collaborating institutions. Specific Aim 2 (assess the critical faculty development needs in Gene and cell Therapy for HIV research at Ugandan institutions), and Specific Aim 3 (assess the training needs of potential trainees that are interested Gene and cell Therapy for HIV research in Uganda) will be achieved through a training needs assessment i.e. desk review of current training curricular, programs, faculty and resources at collaborating institutions; ii) key informant interviews and on- line surveys among trainers, admissions officers and leaders at collaborating institutions; and iii) focus group discussion among prospective trainees i.e. undergraduate and graduate students and Mak and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Specific Aim 4 (describe the envisioned research training program in Gene and cell Therapy for HIV and identify/develop new training modules and courses to include), and Specific Aim 5 (describe trainee recruitment approaches) will be achieved through meetings, consultations and workshops with trainers, curriculum developers and leaders at collaborating institutions. Specific Aim 6 (develop and submit a D43 application to the National Institutes of Health) will be achieved through weekly meetings, writing sessions and a 14-day writing retreat involving C&GT program faculty.