Global Infectious Diseases Training (D43)

Pediatric Malaria, HIV-1, Bacteremia and Tuberculosis Training
Activities in Kenya were established in 2002 by Dr. DJ Perkins with the formation of the International Malaria Training and Research Program (IMTRP) funded by the Fogarty International Center (FIC; D43 TW05884).

Activities originally focused on training and research in severe malarial anemia. However, based on the important need to train African investigators in the areas of HIV-1 and related pediatric co-infections, supplemental funding was awarded to expand the program to include research in pediatric HIV, bacteremia and additional pediatric infectious diseases.

Due to the critical shortage of investigators in sub-Saharan Africa who were engaged in medical/bioinformatics, additional FIC funding was obtained to provide training in these areas through utilization of novel informatics systems. The program trains master’s and doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members in Kenya through collaboration with Kenyatta University (KU), Maseno University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology. Training is also offered in Accra, Ghana through our collaboration with the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP).

Training for endemic area scientists is offered in the areas of genetics, molecular immunology, biostatistics/bioinformatics, drug and vaccine discovery, and information and communication technologies (ICT). The goal of the program is to train endemic area scientists towards independent investigator status to address the overwhelming morbidity and mortality caused by pediatric infectious diseases. Through bilateral exchange, the training environment offers a unique opportunity to incorporate trainees into the UNM Center for Global Health.

The field-research and training opportunities are offered at the facilities in Kisumu and Siaya, Kenya, a holoendemic area of Plasmodium falciparum transmission and a region with the highest rates of pediatric HIV-1 in Kenya, as well as primary academic institutions in Kenya: Kenyatta University and Maseno University. Activities in Ghana are centralized at WACCBIP with peripheral field-sites located throughout the county.