Developmental & Career Enhancement Core

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PROJECT SUMMARY – DEVELOPMENTAL CORE The overarching goal of the Developmental Core (DC) for the Partnership to Assess Viral and Immune Landscape Intersections with Oncology for People Living with HIV (PAVILION) is to enhance capacity for HIV- associated cancer research through fostering the career development of junior investigators in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United States who have a demonstrated interest in infection-related cancer research among people living with HIV (PLWH). This goal involves two broad strategies: 1) implementing a program that generates and supports rigorous pilot research projects and 2) providing other training and educational resources to enhance skills necessary for long term career success. This strategy represents a shift in the culture of research at PAVILION partnering low- and middle-income country (LMIC) institutions. The momentum created by this strategy would provide significant incentive for junior investigators at these sites to take advantage of pilot research funding opportunities while consolidating efforts to pursue career development within a supportive environment with highly experienced mentors, ensuring their long-term success as independent researchers. Moreover, this pipeline of highly trained researchers with interest in infection-related cancers among PLWH will meet the critical need for transdisciplinary, multi-institutional, and international partnerships to understand and potentially mitigate the rapidly growing cancer burden in Africa, where the prevalence of HIV infection remains high. The PAVILION DC program will help ameliorate this growing public health crisis by supporting junior investigators who can lead and maximize the rigor of future research focused on cancers occurring among PLWH1-4 and ensure sustainability of research capacity, strength, and commitment. The Specific Aims to achieve this goal are: Aim 1: Competitively award innovative infection-related cancer pilot research projects across the cancer continuum among PLWH (Area 1) This aim provides funding for junior investigators and mentoring by experienced senior scientists and clinicians. Aim 2: Implement educational and career development activities that enhance the capacity to conduct rigorous infection-related cancer research focused on PLWH (Area 2) This aim provides education, workshops, courses, and career development activities for PAVILION junior investigators.