Training in HIV Genomics, Treatment, and Cure Research in Botswana

项目摘要 这项建议的目标是在艾滋病毒基因组、治疗和治愈研究方面提供研究培训 博茨瓦纳-哈佛艾滋病研究所伙伴关系(BHP)，建立在实验室研究和临床进展的基础上 必和必拓的试验基础设施，支持最先进的艾滋病毒实验室技术的培训机会 并研究该地区的设计。必和必拓的环境为训练有素的人提供了大量的研究机会 博茨瓦纳的研究人员，匹配教师导师和主要合作伙伴的当前研究活动 在博茨瓦纳的现场。必和必拓是哈佛大学陈天桥公共卫生学院和 博茨瓦纳卫生部(MOH)(和博茨瓦纳大学)和最大的艾滋病毒/艾滋病研究 在博茨瓦纳(也是非洲最大的组织之一)。本次会议的长期目标和宗旨 培训计划将继续培训能够在未来几年内负责必和必拓的研究领导者 5-10年，以及可以成为博茨瓦纳大学(UB)和艾滋病毒学院教员的研究人员 卫生部的专家。博茨瓦纳目前成人艾滋病毒感染率位居世界第三(21%)，但 对艾滋病毒患者的抗逆转录病毒药物治疗(ART)的比率也是最高的(超过90%)，必和必拓 领导了通过抗药性和其他基因组的尖端研究来支持治疗计划的努力 工作，由Fogarty实习生支持。这项工作现在正在扩展到艾滋病毒治愈研究领域，并进入 HIV和SARS-CoV-2的交集；必和必拓现在是国际公认的研究中心 了解新的SARS-CoV-2变异株的出现与HIV流行的关系。这个 哈佛和必和必拓的培训教师将把他们正在进行的努力集中在让Fogarty实习生留在 基因组学、治疗和治愈研究的前沿，并加强培训机会 在该地区的其他地方可用。我们已经申请了2个博士后和3个博士后职位的资金 每年。我们估计，我们将在5年内培训约18名学员，允许每位学员接受多年培训。 博士候选人和一些博士后研究员，并假设几个短期实习生可以填补一个 年度培训时段。津贴将基于当前的学位和研究经验。所有实习生都会 至少拥有理科学士学位。我们估计大约一半的人将是有临床经验的医生。有些人会 成为博士后研究员，拥有相关领域的博士学位，但没有艾滋病毒研究经验。每个实习生都将 有一位主要的导师。学员的选择是基于以前的学习成绩，推荐信， 经验，并保证候选人将回国参加博茨瓦纳的艾滋病毒研究。这个 该项目的质量将由一个由美国专家组成的培训咨询委员会进行监督 以及南部非洲地区。培训计划的成功与否将取决于 成功的治疗研究方案，涉及受训人员，受训人员出版物数量在高影响 在必和必拓、UB和卫生部担任的高级研究职位相对增加。

PROJECT ABSTRACT The goal of this proposal is to provide research training in HIV genomic, treatment, and cure research at the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), building on advances in laboratory research and clinical trial infrastructure at BHP that support training opportunities in the most advanced HIV laboratory techniques and study designs in the region. The environment at BHP offers a host of research opportunities for trained researchers in Botswana, matching current research activities of the faculty mentors and key partners working at the Botswana site. BHP is a partnership is between the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Botswana (and the University of Botswana), and the largest HIV/AIDS research organization in Botswana (and one of the largest in Africa). The long-term goals and objectives of this Fogarty training program are to continue training research leaders who can take responsibility for BHP within the next 5–10 years, and researchers who can become academic faculty at the University of Botswana (UB) and HIV experts at MOH. Botswana currently has the third-highest prevalence of HIV in the world for adults (21%), but has also had the highest rate of antiretroviral drug treatment (ART) for patients with HIV (over 90%), and BHP has led efforts to support the treatment program with cutting-edge research in resistance and other genomic work, supported by Fogarty trainees. This work is now extending into the realm of HIV cure research, and into the intersection between HIV and SARS-CoV-2; BHP is now an internationally recognized center for research to understand the relationship between new SARS-CoV-2 variant emergence and the HIV epidemic. The training faculty at Harvard and at BHP will focus their ongoing efforts on keeping Fogarty trainees at the forefront of genomics, treatment, and cure research and strengthening training opportunities that are not available elsewhere in the region. We have requested funds for 2 predoctoral and 3 postdoctoral positions each year. We estimate that we will train about 18 trainees over 5 years, allowing for multiple years for each PhD candidate and some postdoctoral fellows, and assuming several short-term trainees could fill a single annual training slot. Stipends will be based on current degrees and research experience. All trainees would have at least a BSc degree. We estimate that about half will be physicians with clinical experience. Some will be postdoctoral fellows who have PhD’s in a related area but no experience in HIV research. Each trainee will have a primary mentor. Selection of trainees is based on previous academic performance, references, experience, and assurance that the candidates will return to participate in HIV research in Botswana. The quality of the program will be monitored by a Training Advisory Committee composed of experts from the US and the southern African region. The success of the training program will be judged by the implementation of successful treatment research programs that involve trainees, numbers of trainee publications in high-impact journals, and relative increase in senior research positions at BHP, UB, and MOH held by former trainees.