Pitt-Mozambique Training Program(Pitt-MozHRTP) in COVID-19, Cardiovascular Disease, and Diabetes in People with HIV

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ABSTRACT HIV infection continues to take a severe toll on Mozambique, which underscores the need for investments in building research capacity to help combat the epidemic. To address this need, we propose to establish the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt)-Mozambique HIV Research Training Program (Pitt-MozHRTP). The purpose of the program is to build research capacity at two sister institutions of the Mozambique National Institute of Health: the Polana Caniço Health Research Center (CISPOC) in Maputo, the capital city, and the Beira Operations Research Center (CIOB), which is in the port city of Beira in central Mozambique. CISPOC and CIOB both have growing HIV research portfolios and a commensurate need for increased research capacity. The research focus of our program is COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in people with HIV (CCD-PWH), all areas of enormous clinical and public health importance. Pitt-MozHRTP training sites will be at Pitt and the University of Stellenbosch (SU) in Cape Town, South Africa. The program will be directed by Dr. Lee Harrison at Pitt; Dr. Edna Viegas, who is responsible for overseeing research at CISPOC; and Dr. Jean Nachega at SU. A broad array of degree (both PhD and master's) training opportunities will be available in epidemiology and biostatistics, and laboratory sciences. In addition, we will offer post-doctoral fellowships for exceptional candidates who have recently completed their doctoral training. We will also use workshops conducted at CISPOC to augment research capacity at both CISPOC and CIOB. The program includes a multidisciplinary group of experienced mentors and excellent training opportunities at each site. Each trainee will have at least two mentors, one in Mozambique and another at the training site. The inclusion of SU provides substantial opportunities for “south-to-south” training between Mozambique and neighboring South Africa. In addition, the more experienced CISPOC will assist in building research capacity at CIOB. Trainees will have access to all the substantial resources of the participating institutions. Over the five-year funding period, we plan to train 6 masters students, 3 PhD students, and 5 post-doctoral fellows. In addition, ten trainees will attend the Johns Hopkins Graduate Summer Institute of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and we will conduct nine workshops at CISPOC. In summary, the Pitt-MozHRTP will make major contributions to building research capacity in the area CCD-PWH in Mozambique by providing a broad array of exceptional training opportunities.