New AIDS ResearchTraining Grants Awarded for Projects in 15 Countries

Shannon Bourret
April 15, 2009
11:16 AM

Fifteen low to middle income countries will receive seven grants from The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health totaling up to $2.7 million. The State University of New York at Buffalo was a first-time recipient of a new award, for postgraduate training in HIV/AIDS clinical pharmacology in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe and in support of NIH-funded HIV research networks in the country. The University of North Carolina grant will provide training programs in China, Malawi and Cameroon, giving preference to trainees with guaranteed jobs in their home countries after they leave the program. They will also take advantage of training opportunities between developing countries in the southern hemisphere like Malawi and South Africa. In addition, the University of Pittsburgh is emphasizing "south-to-south" partnerships, adding a training site in Mozambique, where researchers can work with researchers from the Pitt program in Brazil who speak Portuguese like those in Mozambique. The university also will continue HIV research training in India.

I was very encouraged after reading this article. It is exciting to see countries coming together to solve world wide problems. There is no reason why those countries with developed medical programs should not help to assist other countries who are struggling in those areas. I also like how there is not a focus on one country that needs help. It is encouraging to see America is putting out several hands to help around the world. It is so obvious that HIV and AIDS is a worldwide epidemic. It is a disease that needs incredible attention and several countries around the world need help. That is why this story is so exciting that those countries are getting training in clinical pharmacology.

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