Northwestern and Jos University Research Training Program in HIV and Malignancies

描述(申请人提供)：艾滋病恶性疾病在撒哈拉以南非洲是一个严重的问题，因为广泛的艾滋病毒流行和致癌病毒共同感染的高负担。PEPFAR、全球基金和其他机构实施的抗逆转录病毒治疗计划显著降低了艾滋病毒相关的发病率和死亡率，但恶性肿瘤和其他非传染性疾病的发病率正在上升，同时人口老龄化。非洲的大多数医疗和研究机构都没有做好应对这些新出现的卫生挑战的准备。乔斯大学和乔斯大学教学医院(JUTH)艾滋病毒护理和治疗计划成立于2002年，目前为20,000多名感染艾滋病毒的成人和儿童提供护理、治疗和支持。这个以大学为基础的中心是非洲最大的艾滋病毒护理提供者之一。为了改善西非和非洲大陆艾滋病相关恶性肿瘤的管理，乔斯大学联合西北大学提议建立一个多学科研究培训计划，该计划将建立在合作的基础上，并通过发展专注于艾滋病定义的恶性肿瘤(宫颈癌、卡波西肉瘤和非霍奇金淋巴瘤)方面的创新合作努力的研究团队来提高尼日利亚的能力。我们的主要假设是，在癌症流行病学、临床试验、翻译和实验室研究方面建立关于艾滋病定义的恶性肿瘤的能力将导致发病率和相关发病率和死亡率的显著降低。我们将在美国总统艾滋病紧急救援计划(PEPFAR)、西北大学艾滋病国际培训和研究计划(Northwest-AITRP)和尼日利亚医学教育伙伴计划(MEPIN)提供的现有国内培训能力的基础上，实现我们在这一重要健康优先领域的目标。这项建议的具体目标是：1)对能够对艾滋病定义的恶性肿瘤的发病机制、流行病学和预防进行翻译研究的艾滋病毒临床医生和研究人员进行高级培训；2)对能够对新的 艾滋病定义的恶性肿瘤的治疗和预防干预措施；3)对病理学和病毒学科学家进行培训，以开展致癌机制和发病机制的研究；4)创建一个多学科研究小组，能够在尼日利亚乔斯开展关于艾滋病定义的恶性肿瘤的国内高级研究。我们将通过强大的导师和长期硕士和博士学位授予计划、中期研究项目驱动的培训经验、短期国内研讨会和创新的远程学习方法相结合的方式来实现我们的培训目标。在这个项目结束时，我们希望使乔斯大学成为尼日利亚和西非艾滋病恶性疾病研究和护理的卓越中心。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): AIDS malignancies are a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa because of the widespread HIV epidemic and a high burden of oncogenic viral co-infections. Antiretroviral treatment programs put into place by PEPFAR, the Global Fund and others, have resulted in a remarkable decrease in HIV-related morbidity and mortality, however, the rate of malignancies and other non-communicable diseases is rising while at the same time, the population is aging. Most medical and research institutions in Africa are ill prepared to deal with these emerging health challenges. The University of Jos and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) HIV Care and Treatment Program, established in 2002, currently provides care, treatment and support to over 20,000 HIV- infected adults and children. This university-based center is one of the largest providers of HIV care in Africa. In an effort to improve the management of AIDS-associated malignancies in West Africa and the continent, University of Jos/JUTH in conjunction with Northwestern University, proposes to build a multidisciplinary research-training program, which will build upon collaborations and enhance capacity in Nigeria by developing research teams focused on innovative collaborative endeavors in AIDS-defining malignancies (cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Our primary hypothesis is that building capacity in cancer epidemiology, clinical trials, translational, and laboratory research on AIDS-defining malignancies will lead to a significant reduction in incidence and related morbidity and mortality. We will build on existing in-country training capacity provided by the United States President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Northwestern University AIDS International Training and Research Program (Northwestern-AITRP), and Medical Education Partnership Initiative Nigeria (MEPIN) to achieve our objectives in this important health priority area. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1) advance training of HIV clinician-investigators capable of performing translational research on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and prevention of AIDS-defining malignancies; 2) initiate training of oncology clinician-investigators capable of performing clinical trial research on novel interventions for the treatment and prevention of AIDS-defining malignancies; 3) develop training of pathology and virology scientists to perform research on oncogenic mechanisms and pathogenesis; 4) create a multidisciplinary research team capable of performing advanced in-country research on AIDS-defining malignancies in Jos, Nigeria. We will accomplish our training goals through strong mentorship and a combination of long-term master's and PhD degree granting programs, medium-term research project-driven training experiences, short-term in-country workshops, and innovative distance learning approaches. At the end of this project, we aspire to make the University of Jos a center of excellence in the research and care of AIDS malignancies in Nigeria and West Africa.