Training Program on HIV Diversity and Drug Resistance-Enhancing Research Capacity

说明(申请人提供)：喀麦隆广泛的艾滋病毒-1基因多样性和抗药性变种的出现增加了病毒遗传多样性的复杂性，给诊断和预防工作带来了潜在的问题，需要监测艾滋病毒-1多样性的演变，并检查新的艾滋病毒-1变种对不同艾滋病毒-1检测试剂盒检测的敏感性。这些问题继续突出了喀麦隆进一步培训和研究的必要性。这项题为“艾滋病毒多样性和抗药性培训计划：提高研究能力”的培训计划着眼于长期，目的是建设和加强喀麦隆雅温得医疗诊断中心的研究能力，以便1)记录和监测艾滋病毒-1基因多样性和进化；2)记录和监测出现的抗逆转录病毒抗药性艾滋病毒-1变种；3)研究不同艾滋病毒-1变种的生物学和免疫学特性，包括新出现和耐药毒株；4)监测市售检测试剂盒诊断由不同艾滋病毒-1毒株引起的感染的能力；5)提高质量保证和实验室生物安全性。为实现这些目标，我们将：a)组织国内培训讲习班，提供关于以下方面的短期当地现场培训：i)质量保证和实验室生物安全；ii诊断各种艾滋病毒毒株引起的感染的新技术和市面上可获得的检测试剂盒；以及iii)科学和赠款撰写技能。B)在以下方面提供长期培训 纽约，通过为博士后和博士后提供的非学位或学位课程，开展与艾滋病毒遗传多样性研究相关的分子生物学/流行病学/生物统计学研究。C)在纽约为研究员提供中期培训，以进行病毒基因亚型表征和计算分析方面的动手实验室培训，以记录和确定各种艾滋病毒-1毒株和/或抗药性突变，以及病毒的生物学和免疫学特性。D)通过实操培训提供短期培训，记录耐药突变和数据解释，参加流行病学和生物统计学课程，并与相关导师一对一合作。以及(E)通过向适当的长期“校友”研究员提供小额赠款来支持国内的研究，以开展针对争取民主变革运动的研究目标的研究。这一培训计划应该建立和加强MDC的研究能力，以开展与喀麦隆干预和预防计划相关的艾滋病毒-1多样性和耐药性研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The broad HIV-1 genetic diversity and the emergence of drug resistant variants in Cameroon adds to complicate the viral genetic diversity and poses potential problems for diagnosis and prevention efforts, requiring that the evolution of HIV-1 diversity be monitored, and that new HIV-1 variants be examined for sensitivity of detection by different HIV-1 test kits. These problems continue to underscore the need for further training and research in Cameroon. This training program entitled "Training Program on HIV Diversity and Drug Resistance: enhancing research capacity" is designed with long-term to build and strengthen research capacity at the Medical Diagnostic Center in Yaounde, Cameroon for conducting studies to 1) document and monitor HIV-1 genetic diversity and evolution; 2) document and monitor the emergence antiretroviral drug resistant HIV-1 variants; 3) study the biologic and immunologic properties of different HIV-1 variants including emerging and drug resistant strains; 4) monitor the ability of commercially available test kits to diagnose infection by caused by diverse HIV-1 strains; and 5) to improve quality assurance and laboratory biosafety. To achieve these objectives we will: a) Organize in-country training workshops that will provide short-term local onsite training on: i) quality assurance and laboratory biosafety; ii new technologies and commercially available test kits for the diagnosis of infections caused by diverse HIV strains; and iii) scientific and grant writing skills. b) Provide long-term training in New York for studies of molecular biology/epidemiology/biostatistics relevant to studies of HIV genetic diversity through non-degree or degree programs for pre- and post-doctoral fellows. c) Provide medium-term training in New York for fellows to perform hands-on-laboratory training on viral genetic subtype characterization and computational analysis to document and identify diverse HIV-1 strains and/or drug resistance mutations, and viral biologic and immunologic properties. d) Provide short-term training through hands-on-training in documenting drug resistance mutations and data interpretation, to attend courses on epidemiology and biostatistics and to work one-on-one with relevant mentors. And, e) To support in-country research by providing small grants to appropriate long-term "alumni" fellows to conduct studies that addresses the research goals of the MDC. This training program should build and strengthen the research capacity at MDC to conduct studies on HIV-1 diversity and drug resistance that are relevant to intervention and prevention programs in Cameroon.