Culturally-focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity (CHANGE) Training Program

There is a critical gap in the research enterprise related to addressing persistent challenges and health disparities in HIV-related and mental health outcomes. This proposed institutional training grant (T32) targets this gap by providing robust research training on HIV and mental health disparities. Preparing trainees with the scientific tools to become experts in the complex interplay of socio-structural and individual mental health variables perpetuating health disparities in HIV outcomes is crucial to ending the HIV epidemic. HIV continues to disproportionally impact specific communities in the US; and Miami remains the epicenter of HIV with most new HIV diagnoses annually. Miami’s rich cultural context and its HIV and mental health disparities, and the training infrastructure and faculty expertise at the University of Miami (UM), make Miami an ideal location for this HIV mental health research training program. The proposed T32 is closely tied to the aims of the UM Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (an NIMH-funded AIDS Research Center). It will train two pre-doctoral students in psychology and public health sciences and up to 4 post-doctoral fellows across disciplines over 5 years in two linked areas: 1) culturally informed interventions and 2) innovative bio-behavioral interventions including scale up, linkage, and dissemination/implementation programs for pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment as prevention in populations who need it most. Training will emphasize 1) innovative state-of the science statistical and design methods, 2) community engagement through participatory research, and 3) professional development, mentorship, and network building congruent with the needs of trainees focused on HIV and mental health disparities - all to ensure long-term success of program graduates. Innovations include a focus on immersive community engagement and community-based participatory research projects, integrated with coursework and training in key behavioral science topics such as socio-structural, bio-behavioral and epidemiological foundations of HIV/mental health research. Weekly seminars will provide professional development in rigor and reproducibility, innovative methods, community-engaged research and immersion in the HIV and mental health fields, building professional networks, capitalizing on UM’s faculty mentoring expertise, and providing linkages with UM’s Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health’s Community Advisory Board. T32 fellows will graduate with the expertise and capacity to achieve their professional goals and skills to conduct research aimed at ending the HIV epidemic.