Pitt HIV-TB research and training program in India

 描述(由申请者提供)：我们建议在匹兹堡大学启动一个关于印度艾滋病毒和结核病的培训和研究计划(PIT-India-HTRTP)。这一新的PIT-印度-HTRTP计划将与我们在印度海得拉巴的LEPRA协会(LEPS)的合作伙伴合作开展工作，LEPRA协会是研究艾滋病毒和结核病的主要研究和临床中心之一。在过去的几年里，匹兹堡大学的研究人员一直在与LEPS的研究人员合作，进行基于社区的预防研究，并开发新的结核病快速诊断方法。LEPS是一个有90年历史的非政府组织，为患有结核病、麻风病、艾滋病毒和疟疾的印度农村人口提供医疗服务。最近，LEPS开始了一个研究中心，以补充其临床活动，但仍然严重缺乏具有现代研究(实验室、临床和行为科学)知识的学者和医生，以应对日益增长的公共卫生挑战，即在艾滋病毒感染人群中预防和控制耐药结核病和正常结核病。根据LEPS管理层结合匹兹堡大学正在进行的研究项目进行的全面需求评估，我们确定了LEPS工作人员可以接受培训的多个领域，以提高他们的研究能力。PIT-印度-HTRTP的目标是通过培训多学科尖端研究中的卫生保健专业人员、发表开创性研究以及参与临床试验来提高LEPS的研究能力，以改善印度对艾滋病毒和结核病的控制。拟议的培训计划将由传染病和微生物系教授兼联席主任帕尔古尼·古普塔博士、具有艾滋病毒专长的传染病和微生物系教授维尔潘迪·艾亚沃博士、具有结核病专长的传染病和微生物系助理教授阿尼尔·奥伊哈以及具有艾滋病毒免疫学专长的传染病和微生物系教授托德·莱因哈特领导。此外，由匹兹堡大学、LEPS和印度政府附属的研究和卫生政策机构组成的联合培训咨询委员会将对项目结构、招聘、研究计划和安置进行持续的关键评估。虽然大多数长期培训(获得学位)和短期培训将在匹兹堡大学进行，但一些临床和基础科学方面的短期培训将通过我们在印度的国家结核病研究所(NIRT)和DNA指纹与诊断中心(CDFD)的合作伙伴提供，仅针对那些不能前往美国的受训者。拟议的计划为印度卫生专业人员在流行病学、行为科学和实验室科学方面的艾滋病毒/结核病研究提供了一个协调的、跨学科的培训机会。通过PIT-印度-HTRTP培训计划，LEPS的医疗保健专业人员将获得艾滋病毒、结核病和艾滋病毒/结核病混合感染方面的创新研究知识，并在这些领域进行临床试验、敏感诊断和针对这些感染的最佳治疗方式。这些改进将使LEP能够就实施有效的艾滋病毒和结核病控制计划做出明智的政策决定。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to launch a Training and Research Program on HIV and TB in India at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt-India-HTRTP). This new Pitt-India-HTRTP program will operate in collaboration with our partners at LEPRA Society (LepS), Hyderabad, India, one of the major research and clinical centers working on HIV and TB. Over the last couple of years, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have been working with the investigators at LepS in conducting community based prevention studies and developing novel rapid diagnosis of TB. LepS is a 90-year old non-governmental organization providing healthcare services to rural populations of India inflicted with TB, Leprosy, HIV and Malaria. Recently, LepS started a research center to complement its clinical activities, but there is still an acute shortage of scholars and physicians with knowledge in modern research (laboratory, clinical, and behavioral sciences) to meet the ever-growing public health challenges of preventing and controlling drug resistant and normal TB in HIV infected populations. Based on comprehensive needs assessment by LepS management in conjunction with the ongoing research programs at the University of Pittsburgh, we identified multiple areas in which LepS workers can be trained to further their research capacity. Goal of the Pitt-India-HTRTP is to enhance the research capacity of LepS by training health care professionals in multidisciplinary cutting-edge research, publish pioneering research as well as participate in clinical trials to improve control of HIV and TB in India. The proposed training program will be led by Dr. Phalguni Gupta, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) and Co- Directors, Drs. Velpandi Ayyavoo, Professor of IDM with expertise in HIV, Anil Ojha, Assistant Professor of IDM with expertise in TB, and Todd Reinhart, Professor of IDM with expertise in HIV immunology. In addition, a joint Training Advisory Committee from the University of Pittsburgh, LepS, and the Government-affiliated research and health-policy institutions in India will provide ongoing critical evaluations of the program structure, recruitment, research plans, and placement. While most of the long-term training (leading to degrees) and short-term training will be at the University of Pittsburgh, some short-term training in clinical and basic sciences wil be provided through our partners at the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), and Center for DNA fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in India for only those trainees who cannot travel to the US. The proposed Program offers a unique opportunity for the coordinated, interdisciplinary training of health professionals from India in HIV/TB research in epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and laboratory sciences. Through this Pitt-India-HTRTP training program, health care professionals at LepS will gain knowledge about innovative research in HIV, TB and HIV/TB co-infections, and conduct clinical trials in these areas, sensitive diagnosis, and optimum treatment modalities against these infections. These enhancements will enable LepS to make informed policy decision on implementing effective control programs against HIV and TB.