Fostering diversity in the next generation of HIV researchers to improve the HIV continuum of care

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PROJECT SUMMARY. Significance. Great progress has been made toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals worldwide, and novel methods for HIV prevention are beginning to decrease the size of the epidemic. However, much work on the HIV continuum of care remains. Racial and ethnic diversity among HIV researchers will be critical in developing new approaches to address the gaps that currently elude the best HIV science conducted to date. Yet, funding rates for underrepresented in medicine/public health (URiM) researchers are well below those of white researchers (~15% versus 25% overall) and only 6% of K career development award applicants have been URiM trainees. Approach. In Aim 1, the Fostering Diversity in HIV Research Program uses Social Cognitive Career Theory and the Mentoring Across Difference framework to train mentors in key skills to successfully support URiM trainees. Workshops are held annually with additional quarterly sessions. In Aim 2, the program provides structured research mentorship exclusively to URiM trainees to address the HIV continuum of care. Trainees are identified primarily through residency and post- doctoral fellowship programs at Massachusetts General Hospital and master’s degree and PhD programs at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; however, individuals from other institutions are eligible. Trainees receive formal didactics on the HIV continuum of care and career development, focusing on issues particularly relevant for URiM trainees (e.g., implicit bias, resiliency in research). Mentors support URiM trainees in gaining knowledge about behavioral HIV research, as well as provide the hands-on technical and professional skills needed to develop successful research careers. All activities are tailored to the needs of URiM trainees and each individual’s stage of training. Research addresses the following areas of the HIV continuum of care both domestically and globally: PrEP delivery and adherence; HIV testing and outreach; linkage, retention in care, and ART adherence; chronic care and complications of treated HIV; and maternal health and perinatal transmission. Supplement activities will support an intensive 6-week Program in Clinical Effectiveness to “kickstart” clinical research careers for those completing residency or transitioning from complementary fields, in addition to the above-noted program activities. Primary outcomes of the program are HIV research mentors with the necessary mentoring competencies to successfully support URiM trainees, as well as high quality, satisfying, and impactful mentorship of URiM trainees who achieve core research competencies. Other outcomes include trainee scholarship (i.e., manuscripts and grants), progression of trainees through the academic research pipeline, and fidelity of program implementation. Innovation. This program is innovative in its 1) targeted training of mentors to effective support URiM trainees, 2) focus on the transition periods when many trainees leave academic research, 3) creation of a broad-based Community of Practice among URiM trainees, and 4) interdisciplinary focus, fostering cross-collaboration and team science.