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

描述（由申请人提供）：喀麦隆广泛的HIV-1遗传多样性和耐药变体的出现使病毒遗传多样性复杂化，并为诊断和预防工作带来潜在问题，要求监测HIV-1多样性的演变，并检查不同HIV-1检测试剂盒检测新HIV-1变体的敏感性。这些问题继续强调需要在喀麦隆进行进一步的培训和研究。这一名为“艾滋病毒多样性和耐药性培训方案：加强研究能力”的培训方案旨在长期建设和加强喀麦隆雅温得医疗诊断中心的研究能力，以便开展以下研究：1)记录和监测艾滋病毒-1遗传多样性和进化；2)记录和监测出现的抗逆转录病毒耐药HIV-1变异；3)研究不同HIV-1变异（包括新发和耐药菌株）的生物学和免疫学特性；4)监测市售检测试剂盒诊断多种HIV-1毒株感染的能力；5)提高质量保证和实验室生物安全。为了实现这些目标，我们将：a)组织国内培训讲习班，提供短期的当地现场培训：i)质量保证和实验室生物安全；用于诊断各种艾滋病毒毒株引起的感染的新技术和市售检测试剂盒；iii)科学和拨款的写作技巧。b)提供长期的培训

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.