Minnesota-Makerere-Mbarara Neuro-Infectious Disease Research Training Consortium

Abstract Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) cause a disproportionate burden of mortality and morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This D43 training program builds upon an existing, successful multidisciplinary research partnership focused on CNS infectious diseases which has been ongoing since 2005, particularly in the realm of HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis and TB meningitis. This new application proposes a Minnesota-Makerere-Mbarara training program in Uganda for neuro-infectious diseases with multidisciplinary training in clinical research, biostatistics, epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, neurology, ophthalmology, pharmacology, and psychiatry. The meningitis research platform has in the past decade published >150 manuscripts, enabled 3 Ugandans to secure independent NIH research funding as a PI, facilitated funded PhD training for 6 Ugandans, as well as provided research projects and support for 16 Ugandan Master's students. We seek to continue this successful partnership and training portfolio through providing translational research training in the gap after Master's of Medicine (MMed) graduate medical training (i.e. equivalent to a U.S. graduate medical residency) and before PhD training or research faculty posts. We propose a 2-3 year intensive mentored research experiences to publish Master's theses, gain new research skills, generate preliminary data for new projects, and apply for funded PhD training, research grants, and/or faculty appointments. The D43 training faculty draws on 19 primary research mentors of whom, 9 are Ugandan, and 10 are American with a multinational training advisory committee overseeing the D43 program. Specific Aim 1. Expand needed research expertise in Uganda in the areas of neuro-infectious diseases by training at least 12 physician scientists. Post-graduate fellowships represent a current career gap between initial research experiences in MMed graduate medical training and future PhD training positions and/or faculty appointments. Specific Aim 2. Build research capacity in Uganda through workshops and short-term training focused on: scientific communication, leadership, research methodologies, clinical trial experiences, applied biostatistics, and translational laboratory mentored research experiences in Uganda and with short term U.S. exchange visits, as needed. D43 Fellows will have the opportunity to gain clinical trial experience as well as implement nested research projects into ongoing investigator-initiated randomized clinical trials for cryptococcal meningitis, TB meningitis, or advanced HIV disease.