Nicaraguan Emerging and Endemic Diseases (NEED) Training Program

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ABSTRACT The growing, global impact of emerging and endemic viral diseases is a critical public health issue. The explosive spread of Zika virus throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in 2015 followed only two years after a similar pattern of spread of chikungunya virus. In 2017, yellow fever virus from Amazon regions emerged in Rio de Janeiro, underscoring the risk of a major urban outbreak, and in 2020 the entire world were affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In addition to these emerging and reemerging viruses, endemic viruses continue to cause a high burden of disease. Caliciviruses are now the leading causes of childhood diarrhea in Nicaragua, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus continue to cause a high burden of respiratory disease, and all four dengue serotypes are now endemic. We have designed a program to train a cadre of innovative Nicaraguan scientists to confront these emerging and endemic pathogens of high priority. The rationale for this program is to protect the public health of populations by increasing the numbers and expertise of local scientists to 1) describe the epidemiology of these viral pathogens, 2) understand their impact on morbidity and mortality, and 3) identify evidence-based approaches to reduce their prevalence and burden of disease. Our program’s original objectives included: 1) Provide long-term, pre-doctoral training in infectious disease epidemiology at UNC to two young investigators from UNAN-León. These graduates will contribute to infectious disease research in the region to address pressing local research agendas; 2) Create a sustainable supply of well-trained biomedical scientists in the region by establishing an accredited PhD program in Biomedical Sciences at UNAN-León; we will enroll five pre-doctoral candidates in the initial cohort. This program built upon a successful Master’s program of Microbiology in place at UNAN-León and fills a huge need in the region for PhD- trained infectious disease investigators. 3) Foster professional growth and research skills development among 140 trainees of all levels, including local faculty, to ensure academic and research success. Robust short-term trainings in professional and research skills needed to become an independent investigator and successful academician were provided to both trainees and local faculty to ensure that the program’s impacts extend more broadly. Unfortunate political events in Nicaragua during the final year of our award have forced us to adapt our second objective, as we are no longer able to partner with UNAN-León. Our 3 Biomedical Sciences PhD students need to complete their PhD training outside the country. The goal of this Administrative Supplement is to fund their training with experienced microbiology faculty at the University of Costa Rica, one of the only universities in the region to provide PhD training. We also request an additional year of funding for a trainee whose PhD training was delayed due to severe COVID. This will ensure that the investment made in these individuals translates into the completion of their PhD training and the increase in infectious disease research capacity in Central America.