Training in HIV Translational Research

ABSTRACT Investment in the training of young scientists to focus on key HIV research areas is critical to achieve our ambitious goal of controlling the HIV epidemic worldwide. The pace of progress has always been rapid in the field of HIV, with new findings and challenges dramatically altering the research agenda, as illustrated by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on persons with HIV. Decades, not years, of work are ahead of us. Our program has successfully trained physician researchers now serving in leadership and faculty positions in academic and public health institutions around the U.S. In this renewal, we propose rigorous training for physicians in high- impact HIV research areas including HIV cure, biomedical prevention, novel treatments, co-infections (TB, STIs) with a cross cutting focus of disparities. The program is co-directed by two physician scientists (Havlir and Deeks) who have extensive and complementary experience across the spectrum of translational research via laboratory- based, clinical, implementation and population level research in HIV and its complications in the domestic and international setting. We are launching new approaches and programs to support our pipeline of URM investigators to join the HIV research workforce. At completion of the program, we expect our graduates to have achieved the following: (1) to have a track record of publications; (2) to be well on their way to becoming productive, independent researchers at an academic or other public or private research entity; (3) to have secured K-level funding, VA career development awards, R21, or R01 funding the scholar stays in academia. We strive to train leading HIV patient-oriented and translational physician scientists and for these leaders to consist of women, men, and persons of diverse racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds