Sustained Training in Aging and HIV Research (STAHR)

 描述(由申请者提供)：该申请旨在开发、实施和评估一个创新的研究培训计划，旨在扩大由NIMH资助的在艾滋病毒和老龄化的交叉点进行心理健康研究的新研究人员的数量。在美国，超过一半的感染艾滋病毒的成年人年龄在50岁以上，这一数字预计还会上升。在精神健康的背景下，艾滋病毒和老龄化并存，一方面与身体和精神共病、多药、认知障碍和心理社会应激源等问题存在复杂的关系，另一方面与成功老龄化、韧性和神经可塑性等积极方面有关。然而，关于艾滋病毒携带者的病理生理学、生物标记物和干预措施，以及治疗和预防包括神经认知障碍在内的精神疾病，仍有许多需要了解。培养具有老龄和艾滋病毒两方面知识和专长的研究人员的发展，对于促进这一领域迫切需要的研究至关重要。拟议的老龄化和艾滋病毒研究持续培训(STAHR)计划建立在加州大学圣地亚哥分校(UCSD)两个主要研究计划：山姆和罗斯·斯坦老龄化研究所和艾滋病毒神经行为研究计划现有基础设施和专业知识的基础上。它试图解决NIMH艾滋病研究司和艾滋病研究办公室的几个战略目标。它将包括来自加州大学圣地亚哥分校医学院以及药学和工程学院不同系的教师，以及来自其他机构的导师。该计划将面向来自全国各地的临床和翻译博士后研究员和初级教员，以前接受过老龄化或艾滋病毒研究方面的培训，但有兴趣获得这两个因素的交叉方面的专业知识。每年将选出四名新的学者；每个人都将在她/他所在的机构有一名主要导师，在加州大学圣迭戈分校有一名共同导师。这些学者将在第一年参加为期4周的夏季学院，并在3年内参加加州大学圣迭戈分校为期3天的年度研讨会。斯塔尔的第二个目标是建立一个对艾滋病毒和老龄化研究感兴趣的导师网络，作为学员的长期资源。培训将旨在增加艾滋病毒/老龄化研究方面的知识和技能，还将包括研究过程和职业发展方面的培训。每个学者将有一个个人发展计划，其中将概述指导活动和研究经验。创新的远程学习机会将在团队科学、资助机制、导师培训和文化能力等主题中提供。其他特点包括社区利益相关者的积极参与、小组项目、指导会议以及广泛传播Stahr结果。将对学者的职业发展进行严格的短期和长期评估。斯塔尔的目标是培养高素质的独立资助的研究人员，他们将为艾滋病毒/老龄化方面的精神健康研究做出持久的贡献，并为开发老年艾滋病毒神经精神病学的新子领域播下种子。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application aims to develop, implement, and evaluate an innovative research training program designed to expand the number of NIMH-funded new investigators conducting mental health research at the intersection of HIV and aging. Over half of HIV-infected adults in the US are over age 50, and this number is expected to rise. The coexistence of HIV and aging in the context of mental health encompasses a complex relationship with issues of physical and psychiatric comorbidity, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and psychosocial stressors on one hand, and positive aspects such as successful aging, resilience, and neuroplasticity on the other. Yet, there is much to be known about pathophysiology, biomarkers, and interventions for enhancing mental health as well as for treating and preventing mental illnesses, including neurocognitive disorders, in older adults with HIV. Fostering the development of researchers with knowledge and expertise in both aging and HIV will be critical for the promotion of urgently needed research in this field. The proposed Sustained Training in Aging and HIV Research (STAHR) program builds on the infrastructure and expertise available at two major research programs at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD): the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging and the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program. It seeks to address several strategic objectives of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research and the Office of AIDS Research. It will involve faculty from different departments in the UCSD School of Medicine as well as the Schools of Pharmacy and Engineering, along with mentors from other institutions. The program will target clinical and translational post- doctoral fellows and junior faculty from across the country, with previous training in either aging or HIV research, but interested in gaining expertise in the intersection o these two factors. Four new scholars will be selected every year; each will have a primary mentor at her/his home institution and a co-mentor at UCSD. These scholars will attend a 4-week summer institute during their first year and an annual 3-day workshop at UCSD for 3 years. A secondary aim of STAHR is to establish a network of mentors with interest in HIV and aging research to serve as a standing resource for the trainees. Training will aim to increase knowledge and skills on HIV/Aging research, and will also include training in research process and career development. There will be an Individual Development Plan for each scholar, which will outline mentoring activities and research experiences. Innovative distance learning opportunities will be offered in topics such as team science, funding mechanisms, mentorship training, and cultural competence. Other features include active involvement of community stakeholders, group projects, sessions on mentoring, and wide dissemination of STAHR results. There will be rigorous short and long-term evaluation of the scholars' career progress. STAHR will aim to develop high quality independently-funded investigators, who will make lasting contributions to mental health research in HIV/Aging, and sow the seeds for developing a new sub-field of Geriatric HIV Neuropsychiatry.