Malawi HIV Implementation Research Scientist Training program

 描述(由申请人提供)：马拉维是一个撒哈拉以南非洲国家，人口1500万，艾滋病毒流行率为11%，有十年创造性的简化艾滋病毒方案编制历史。虽然存在大量方案数据，艾滋病毒治疗和预防方面的研究仍在进行中，但下一阶段的研究显然与实施科学有关。如何优化艾滋病毒项目以对疫情产生最大影响？在资源有限的情况下，应优先考虑哪些计划组件，以便在整个护理过程中最大限度地吸收和保留这些内容？为了回答这些问题，马拉维需要在执行科学方面建立基础，因为只有极少数马拉维调查人员接受过执行科学方法论方面的正式培训。我们的马拉维艾滋病毒实施研究培训计划(M-Hirst)建立在15年来由北卡罗来纳大学支持的Fogarty赞助的培训活动的基础上，这些活动培养了一小批具有可持续研究领导能力的马拉维研究人员。现在，我们专注于提高12名初级教员和150名初级调查人员的实施科学研究技能，同时还通过研究生培训(8名调查人员)扩大合格的研究人员队伍。我们的目标是将这些有才华的研究人员安排到马拉维大学医学院(COM)的研究项目中，这是马拉维唯一的医学院。我们的计划旨在通过利用现有计划并在马拉维或南非开展大部分活动来最大限度地提高成本效益。我们的教职员工居住在马拉维或定期前往马拉维，从而降低了项目的差旅成本。我们计划的培训计划包括：i)在第1、3和5年级与主要利益攸关方共同举办实施科学优先事项研讨会；ii)提供每年1-2周的实施科学、临床试验设计、流行病学研究、赠款撰写方面的短期课程；iii)由北卡罗来纳大学和COM教师为受训者研究和职业发展提供指导；iv)4-6个月的实施科学实习(每年2次)和v)竞争性指导研究小额资助计划(每年3-5项资助)。在授权期内，我们预计将有12名初级教员参与M-Hirst计划，15名将受益于小额助学金，150名将参加短期课程(约30/年)。为了扩大实施科学家的队伍，我们将通过与威特沃特斯兰德大学的合作，培训2名实施科学博士候选人，并通过现有的马拉维公共财政硕士课程培训6英里每小时/硕士候选人。重要的是，我们将加强COM研究支持中心，在该中心内建立一个实施科学股，扩大“导师”计划，并提供赠款管理培训。实施科学股将为标准化研究指导提供一个框架，因为研究生培训方案将扩大和支持学院研究轨道。到颁奖结束时，我们预计将拥有独立资助的马拉维研究人员，能够领导马拉维艾滋病毒治疗和预防实施科学议程。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Malawi, a Sub-Saharan African country of 15 million with HIV prevalence of 11%, has a ten year history of creative, simplified HIV programming. While a wealth of programmatic data exists and HIV research in treatment and prevention is ongoing, the next stages of research are clearly related to implementation science. How can the HIV programs be optimized to have the greatest impact on the epidemic? With finite resources, what program components should be prioritized to maximize uptake and retention along the continuum of care? To answer these questions, Malawi needs to build its foundation in implementation science as few, if any Malawian investigators are formally trained in implementation science methodology. Our Malawi HIV Implementation Research Training Program (M-HIRST) builds on 15 years of UNC- supported Fogarty-sponsored training activities that have developed a small pool of Malawian researchers with sustainable research leadership. Now, we focus on enhancing the implementation science research skills of 12 junior faculty and 150 junior investigators while also expanding the pool of qualified researchers through post-graduate training (8 investigators). Our goal is to place these talented researchers into research programs at the University of Malawi, College of Medicine (COM), the only medical school in the country. Our program is designed to maximize cost-effectiveness by utilizing existing programs and conducting the majority of activities in Malawi or South Africa. Our faculty members live in or regularly travel to Malawi, thereby reducing travel costs to the program. Our planned training program includes the following i) a Implementation scientific priorities generation workshop with key stakeholders in year 1,3, and 5 ii) provision of annual 1-2 week short courses in implementation science, clinical trial design, epidemiological research, grant- writing, iii) mentorship for trainee research and career development by UNC and COM faculty, iv) 4-6 months implementation science internships (2 annually) and v) competitive mentored research small grants programs (3-5 grants per year). Over the grant period, we expect 12 junior faculty to engage in the M-HIRST program, 15 to benefit from small grants, and 150 to participate in short courses (~30/year). To expand the pool of implementation scientists, we will train 2 PhD candidates in implementation science through our collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand, and 6 MPH/MSc candidates through the existing Malawi COM MPH course. Importantly, we will strengthen the COM Research Support Center by establishing an Implementation Science Unit within the Center, expanding a "Mentor the Mentors" program, and providing grants management training. The implementation Science unit will provide a framework for standardized research instruction as the post-graduate training programs expand and support the Faculty Research Track. By the end of the award, we expect to have independently funded Malawian investigators capable of leading the Malawi HIV treatment and prevention implementation science agenda.