Tanzania AIDS Malignancies Training and Research Program (TAMTRP)

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Abstract The overall objective of the proposed Tanzania AIDS Malignancies Training and Research Program (TAMTRP) is to enhance the cancer research capacity of the major cancer research institution in Tanzania, the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in partnership with the Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center (SSSCC) at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO). The proposed program will build onto our existing collaboration, prepare ORCI personnel to fill gaps in expertise while preparing for the future of HIV associated cancer diagnostics and research in cancer genomics and therapy. The scientific focus of TAMTRP is research and training in molecular detection/diagnosis, and in quantifying the epidemiology and biology of the most common HIV associated malignancies in Tanzania, especially those with infectious etiology. The short-term goals are: 1) to enhance the ORCI cancer research and training infrastructure. 2) Institute a training and mentoring program for Tanzanians to conduct research on cancers that are commonly encountered at ORCI and SSSCC. These goals will be accomplished through three specific aims: 1) Provide intensive academic instruction and research experience for two PhD and four Master's degree candidates in a relevant HIV associated cancer research field. 2) Provide medium-term (three to six months) technical training opportunities for post-graduates and health care providers in topics related to molecular pathology, cancer biology, bioinformatics, genomics, biostatistics, bio banking, cancer registry, as well as clinical and translational research. 3) Deliver technical workshops designed to enhance basic, clinical, implementation, genomics, bioinformatics, computation genomics, epidemiology, biostatistics, and continue to expand collaborations between partner institutions to enhance the research capability and infrastructure in Tanzania. There are four training tracks: a) clinical trials methodologies and management; b) public health operational and translational research– including cancer prevention, biostatistics and data management, epidemiology, cancer registry, and bio banking; c) laboratory-based cancer biology research– including molecular biology/virology, pathology, diagnostics, viral oncology, and immunology; d) cancer genomics and bioinformatics–including next generation sequencing, data management, big data analytics, and computational genomics. TAMTRP will be critical in the preparation of ORCI (and Tanzania) for the era of personalized and precision cancer medicine, which will utilize cancer genomics for cancer detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. It will provide important insight in the understanding and prevention of HIV associated and non-HIV associated malignancies in Tanzania, and reciprocally, in the U.S.