UGMC and Washington University Partner on HIV Cure Research Training Program

The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) is excited to announce a new collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis, funded by a subaward from the Fogarty International Center. This initiative, titled "HIV Basic Science and Cure Research Training for Scientists at the University of Ghana (H-Cure-RT)," aims to empower the next generation of Ghanaian researchers in HIV basic science and cure research.

 

With a total funding allocation of $681,430 over the project’s duration, $138,424 has been granted for the first phase, running from April 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Under the leadership of UGMC’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Evelyn Yayra Bonney, and Washington University’s Prof. George Boateng Kyei, the program will focus on developing advanced research skills among scientists, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows at UGMC and other departments within the University of Ghana.

 

This comprehensive program builds on the success of the HIV Cure Research Infrastructure Studies (H-CRIS) initiative, established in 2018. The training will equip 11 participants, including three PhD candidates, four MPhil students, and four postdoctoral fellows, with expertise in HIV research through intensive, hands-on mentorship and laboratory work. The H-Cure-RT program will also offer grants and manuscript writing workshops to over 80 faculty and students at the University of Ghana to further expand research capacity.

 

Training will take place primarily at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and UGMC, with short-term exchanges at Washington University in St. Louis. The collaborative structure allows participants to move seamlessly between clinical and laboratory environments, fostering an integrated approach to HIV research.

 

Dr. Bonney emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Although Africa is home to more than 70% of people living with HIV, basic science research on HIV cure solutions has historically lacked representation from African scientists. This program will address this gap by building local expertise and capacity for cure research.”

 

Through this partnership, UGMC and Washington University aim to position Ghana at the forefront of global HIV cure research efforts, developing sustainable solutions and advancing the scientific understanding of HIV latency and eradication.