Research training in infection and neurodevelopment in Uganda

Project Summary/Abstract Infectious diseases are the most common cause of illness in children in low-income countries. Children who survive infectious diseases often suffer long-term neurodevelopmental morbidity, but the neurologic, cognitive and developmental consequences of infections in children remain understudied. In this renewal application, we focus on training in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection-related brain injury and neurodevelopmental impairment in children, a neglected training area in infectious disease. Innovative aspects of this proposal include: the emphasis on infection-related long-term morbidity, a diverse mix of trainees from multiple disciplines working toward collaborative research, core training that brings together the diverse trainees, development of a post-doctoral “pipeline” for faculty positions, and training in essential research support areas, including bioethics, data science and research administration. The proposed training will produce a team of research and public health leaders who can work together to define, prevent and treat infection-related neurodevelopmental impairment. The goal of this application is to establish a core of Ugandan researchers who advance the understanding, prevention and treatment of long-term neurocognitive disability associated with infectious diseases. We propose to accomplish this goal through training: 1) doctoral students in immunology, epidemiology, biostatistics and pediatric infectious diseases; 2) post-doctoral fellows in epidemiology, neuropsychology, pediatric neurology and pediatric neuroradiology; and 3) Master’s students in clinical trials, and in the research support areas of bioethics, data science and research administration. The Makerere University/Indiana University Center for Infection and Neurodevelopment in Jinja, Uganda, with sophisticated clinical, data science, laboratory and neuroimaging capacity, will provide an ideal base for trainee and graduate research studies in infection and neurodevelopment. The proposed training will result in a significant increase in research capacity and public health leaders who can work together to understand, prevent and treat infection-related neurodevelopmental impairment.