The CFAR International Mentored Scientist Award in HIV/AIDS is currently being offered during the Fall 2023 UCSF Resource Allocation Program (RAP) Cycle, deadline October 2, 2023.
The International Mentored Scientist Award seeks to provide a mentored career development opportunity in HIV research for international investigators affiliated with UCSF. Applicants for this award must indicate a UCSF-affiliated faculty research mentor(s) in HIV who will commit to guiding the applicant for the application process and throughout the duration of the proposed project. Project proposals should be geared toward the interests of the applicant (e.g., clinical, basic, implementation science and/or behavioral-epidemiological research) and focus on HIV research in the investigator’s home country.
Eligibility
Researchers (all levels), post-doctoral fellows, and trainees located at a UCSF-affiliated foreign institution who have not received an NIH R01- equivalent grant in HIV/AIDS are eligible. Please note that CFAR is not allowed to provide funding to any investigators who have received HIV-related R01 awards. More senior faculty members may apply only if they are newly entering the field of HIV research.
Designation of Mentor (Critical)
Mentoring is critical to the training component of the CFAR International Mentored Scientist awards. All International Mentored award applications require a faculty research mentor from UCSF or a UCSF-affiliated institution (https://cfar.ucsf.edu/about/partners). Applications without a mentor will be disqualified.
Applicants must identify their UCSF-affiliated mentors and arrange to receive mentor advice and guidance on the research portion of their application well before it is submitted (typically at least two months before the RAP deadline). CFAR is no longer available to assist with mentor identification.
Projects must be within NIH’s HIV/AIDS research high or medium priority areas. Projects in closely related areas (e.g. TB, HCV, drug use, etc.) must be clearly linked to HIV in order to be eligible for CFAR funding.
The award amount is $30,000 in direct costs for one year.
For more detailed information about this RFA, please see the RAP Portal.
International Mentored Science Awardees
33 Awards
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Potential for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra cycle threshold values to monitor early response to anti-TB treatment in HIV co-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy
Potential for Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra cycle threshold values to monitor early response to anti-TB treatment in HIV co-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy
Abstract
Despite steady improvements over time, TB treatment success rate remains lower among HIV-coinfected patients (77%) compared to 86% of the general TB population globally. Successful treatment of TB in HIV co-infected individuals is limited by varying levels of immunosuppression, drug-drug interactions, increased pill burden, in addition to a poor quality of life in the psychological domain.
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Prevalence and outcomes associated with SARS-COV-2 antibody seropositivity among persons at risk for tuberculosis in a high HIV-burden setting: a cohort study in Lusaka, Zambia
Prevalence and outcomes associated with SARS-COV-2 antibody seropositivity among persons at risk for tuberculosis in a high HIV-burden setting: a cohort study in Lusaka, Zambia
Abstract
Despite catastrophic predictions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, SARS-CoV-2 transmission levels unexpectedly appeared to remain low across several variant waves. However, recent evidence from several African countries has demonstrated that as much as 50-80% of individuals have been infected with SARS-COV-2. Such persons are at risk for post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC, e.g., “Long COVID”), which may contribute to a decreased quality of life and productivity.
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Adaptation of a Mindfulness based intervention to support Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among adolescents in Uganda
Adaptation of a Mindfulness based intervention to support Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among adolescents in Uganda
Abstract
Adolescents represent a growing share of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), yet they have lower engagement in care, poor adherence to medication and viral suppression (VS) compared to adults. We postulate that to achieve optimal adherence, interventions that are tailored to the dynamic social and cognitive needs of adolescents as they pass through life-stages need to be culturally adapted and promoted. Mindfulness and acceptance based interventions are slowly gaining traction as appropriate for adolescents.
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Prevalence, clinical and immunological predictors of frailty among older adults with HIV in Kampala
Prevalence, clinical and immunological predictors of frailty among older adults with HIV in Kampala
Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) in sub- Saharan Africa are living longer due to increased access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Nevertheless, there are high rates of age-related complications in adults with HIV partly due to persistent low-grade chronic inflammation. HIV is associated with premature onset of frailty, which occurs earlier and more frequently than in people without HIV. There is a paucity of published data on frailty in sub-Saharan Africa among persons with HIV, with studies reporting a wide range of prevalence estimates and few have focused on older adults.
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Willingness and Feasibility of Using Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy among Women who Retained and Disengaged from Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission Programs in Uganda
Willingness and Feasibility of Using Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy among Women who Retained and Disengaged from Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission Programs in Uganda
Abstract
One-third of women who initiate or continue antiretroviral treatment (ART) during pregnancy are lost to follow up with in six months [1, 2]. ART tablets and pill containers a potential for HIV status disclosure and stigma [1-4] which has stimulated interest in alternate modes of administration including long-acting injections [3, 5] Willingness to use injectable antiretroviral therapy (ART) among women in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs in Uganda is unknown.
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Changes in insulin kinetics in HIV infected patients diagnosed with dolutegravir associated diabetes in Uganda
Changes in insulin kinetics in HIV infected patients diagnosed with dolutegravir associated diabetes in Uganda
Abstract
There has been improved survival of HIV patients globally and very importantly in sub-Saharan Africa where the HIV incidence and prevalence is notably high. This could be attributed to the scale up of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) programs and improved ART efficacy and tolerability over time. With aging and cumulative side effects of ART, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) has been on the rise.
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Impact Evaluation of a Primary Care Health System Strengthening Intervention on HIV and TB services in Kono and Kailahun Districts, Sierra Leone
Impact Evaluation of a Primary Care Health System Strengthening Intervention on HIV and TB services in Kono and Kailahun Districts, Sierra Leone
Abstract
The overall objective of the parent study led by PIH is to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive primary care health systems strengthening intervention in Kono District, Sierra Leone. PIH’s evaluation compares 4 intervention with 7 non-intervention clinics in Kono District. The PIH intervention is a health-systems strengthening intervention that will horizontally integrate clinical and related services in a highly vertical donor-driven system; this includes infrastructure, mentorship, training, and supply chain management.
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Effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C transactivator of transcription (Tat) P21A variant on nuclear levels of active positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and viral latency
Effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C transactivator of transcription (Tat) P21A variant on nuclear levels of active positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and viral latency
Abstract
In human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the persistence of latent viral reservoirs remains the major barrier to virus eradication1. The molecular mechanisms that govern HIV-1 latency at the transcriptional level are not well characterized, but a key player is the HIV-1 Transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein, which promotes viral gene transcription. The sequence of Tat can vary within and between viral subtypes2,3, and this has been shown to translate into differential Tat activity4,5.
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Investigating into the social, health and economic vulnerabilities and resilience of children of women at high risk of HIV in Kampala
Investigating into the social, health and economic vulnerabilities and resilience of children of women at high risk of HIV in Kampala
Abstract
In Uganda, children below 18 years of age have been estimated to be 55% of the Uganda population. Many women who engage in high risk sexual behaviour (WHR) for money and commodities are mothers and they have to manage childcare and their maternal identity at the same time as sex work. One of their most significant challenges is supporting their children emotionally, financially and developmentally. Children of WHR are seldom talked about in discussions around key populations, yet they are as equally affected as their mothers.
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Evaluation of an African specific Donor Health Questionnaire for HIV screening in Cameroonian blood services
Evaluation of an African specific Donor Health Questionnaire for HIV screening in Cameroonian blood services
Abstract
The high risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV infection is partially due to inadequate deferral of potential blood donors because of inappropriate risk behavior questionnaires. This is unfortunate because pre-donation medical screening is the least expensive and one of the most effective strategies for the blood-borne HIV infection in limited resources countries.