Training in HIV Genomics, Treatment, and Cure Research in Botswana

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PROJECT ABSTRACT The goal of this proposal is to provide research training in HIV genomic, treatment, and cure research at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), building on advances in laboratory research and clinical trial infrastructure at BHP that support training opportunities in the most advanced HIV laboratory techniques and study designs in the region. The environment at BHP offers a host of research opportunities for trained researchers in Botswana, matching current research activities of the faculty mentors and key partners working at the Botswana site. BHP is a partnership is between the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Botswana (and the University of Botswana), and the largest HIV/AIDS research organization in Botswana (and one of the largest in Africa). The long-term goals and objectives of this Fogarty training program are to continue training research leaders who can take responsibility for BHP within the next 5–10 years, and researchers who can become academic faculty at the University of Botswana (UB) and HIV experts at MOH. Botswana currently has the third-highest prevalence of HIV in the world for adults (21%), but has also had the highest rate of antiretroviral drug treatment (ART) for patients with HIV (over 90%), and BHP has led efforts to support the treatment program with cutting-edge research in resistance and other genomic work, supported by Fogarty trainees. This work is now extending into the realm of HIV cure research, and into the intersection between HIV and SARS-CoV-2; BHP is now an internationally recognized center for research to understand the relationship between new SARS-CoV-2 variant emergence and the HIV epidemic. The training faculty at Harvard and at BHP will focus their ongoing efforts on keeping Fogarty trainees at the forefront of genomics, treatment, and cure research and strengthening training opportunities that are not available elsewhere in the region. We have requested funds for 2 predoctoral and 3 postdoctoral positions each year. We estimate that we will train about 18 trainees over 5 years, allowing for multiple years for each PhD candidate and some postdoctoral fellows, and assuming several short-term trainees could fill a single annual training slot. Stipends will be based on current degrees and research experience. All trainees would have at least a BSc degree. We estimate that about half will be physicians with clinical experience. Some will be postdoctoral fellows who have PhD’s in a related area but no experience in HIV research. Each trainee will have a primary mentor. Selection of trainees is based on previous academic performance, references, experience, and assurance that the candidates will return to participate in HIV research in Botswana. The quality of the program will be monitored by a Training Advisory Committee composed of experts from the US and the southern African region. The success of the training program will be judged by the implementation of successful treatment research programs that involve trainees, numbers of trainee publications in high-impact journals, and relative increase in senior research positions at BHP, UB, and MOH held by former trainees.