SACORE ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING
PROTEA HOTEL
LIVINGSTONE ZAMBIA
4-8 SEPT 2011
Dr Rosemary Musonda PhD
SACORE SITE DIRECTOR
BOTSWANA HARVARD AIDS INSTITUTE
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Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership,
Gaborone, Botswana- Rosemary Musonda
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre/KCRI,
Moshi Tanzania-Gibson Kibiki
Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola
Zambia-Modest Mulenga
Mc Gill AIDS Centre, Mc Gill University
Montreal, Canada-Mark Wainberg
Harvard School of Pubic Health, Harvard
University Boston USA-Max Essex
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BHP- Joseph M Makhema, MD, Takafira
Mduluza, PhD, Priti Dusara, MD. Hermann
Bussmann, MD, MPH
KCMC-Saidi Kapiga MD DrPh, Gibson Kibiki MD,
Ireen Kiwelu, MSc, and Noel Sam, MD.
TDRC-Victor Chalwe MD MPH, Gershom
Chongo MD MPH , Chanda Mulenga MSc David
Mwakazanga MSc
McGill-: B. Bremmer, PhD, and Florence DoualaBell, PhD.
Harvard HSPH-Vladimir Novitsky MD, PhD, and
Victor DeGruttolla PhD Biostatistics
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Strengthen clinical trials capacity through south
south networking between BHP,KCMC,TDRC and
north south networking with Mc Gill and Harvard
universities;
To expand capacity to conduct various HIV/AIDS
prevention trials including vaccines using our
comparative advantage for strength in expertise;
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To train several young scientist for Masters of
Science degree in biomedical sciences,
bioinformatics or biostatistics;
to strengthen the capacity of post doctoral
scientist in project management and supervision
of young scientist in research activities;
to build capacity in the weaker site particularly
the TDRC, Ndola, through “learning by doing”
and short term training;
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to strengthen the capacity of institution review
boards/ethics committee and
to provide platforms for advocacy and dialogue
with communities and policymakers to support
HIV/AIDS prevention trials including HIV vaccine
research and development in Africa..
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Although the BHP has been able to conduct trials in HIV
prevention the trials were heavily dependent on expertise from
Harvard and the US NIH CTU networks for design, statistical
analysis, the training of clinical and laboratory personnel from
GCP and GCLP, and the generation and selection of candidates
products for testing in the trails. The institute also lacks
experience and expertise for designing HIV efficacy vaccine
trials. In addition it needs to build a local cadres of expertise in
biostatistics, clinical and best sciences in order to sustain future
HI/AIDS prevention trails
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KCMC-KCRI needs includes the areas of research
management and administration, GCP/ GCLP,
GCLP, and in development of laboratory facilities for
viral genotyping and other molecular techniques,
monitoring safety of trial participants for HIV
prevention among high-risk women and
preparation for clinical trials to assess the protective
efficacy of HIV candidate vaccines in Mwanza and
Kilimanjaro & to improvement of the MSc in Clinical
trials curriculum and course support.
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The TDRC require capacity strengthening in
HIV/AIDS prevention research technologies and
clinical trials.This include advanced training in
GCP, GCLP, quality laboratory management,
hierological and immunological makers and
other molecular techniques and study designs
etc. They will participate as a network
collaborator in the BHP demonstration project
in Mochudi with considerable promise to build
more expertise in the area of HIV prevention
trials.
McGill AIDS centre will provide expertise in HIV
transmission clusters of HIV-1 based on
sequencing analysis of viral polymerase genes
using the Mochudi demonstration project for
the network team to transfer to their projects.
In addition, the AIDS Centre will conduct trainings
in sequence analysis and interpretation of drug
resistance results and other HIV diagnostic
techniques related to understanding the
transmission of circulating strains of viruses for
future prevention strategies vaccine designs.
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The HAI is committed to train African scientists
in advanced molecular virology and
immunological techniques through learning by
doing in the BHP laboratory in Botswana and
selected individual will be attached in Max’s lab
in Harvard Boston.
Clinicians will be attached to the Mochudi
projects to train and gain practical experience in
various prevention trials, study design and
project managements skills.
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The dept of statistics will provide short courses
on quantitative analysis of data at BHP in
collaboration University of Botswana dept of
Statistics.
A selected number of students from African will
be attached to the dept in Boston to work on
their data or data from completed randomized
clinical trails conducted at BHP.
Dept of Biostatics will offer the McGoldrick
fellowship to senior scientist to spend three
months n Harvard to be mentored on
Biostatistics.
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Long term training of research fellows for
Master of Science Degree(MSc) and Post
doctoral fellows:
MSc students will be enrolled at the KCMC –
Tumani University College for training in
clinical research, microbiology or immunology.
Students will be exposed to Mochudi study in
Botswana as a community demonstration study
area. Possible long distance training and
courses will be supported especially MSC
epidemiology and other related to the projec
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Post doctoral fellows and MDs will be
engaged in various research activities of
their interest including research
management skills, study design and data
collection, laboratory analysis data
analysis
Expected outcomes: Increased human
capital to conduct research in HIV
prevention in Africa and ability to compete
for grants and become investigators
◦ Short Term Training in biostatistics and
epidemiology, in clinical trials design, advanced
laboratory techniques HIV/AIDS management and
GCP/GCLP and QA/QC, project and data
management and other clinical trials related
trainings.
◦ the McGoldrick fellowship for senior scientist to
go to Harvard in Boston. The McGoldrick will be
free of charge for the TanZamBo network
courtesy of HSPH dept of Biostatistics.
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HSPH –HAI will offer short course on
characterization of HIV-1 relevant to for
vaccine designs.
The Mc Gill AIDS centre Group will provide
training in virological markers as trial end
points ii) HIV sequence signature
matching and ultra sensitive drug
resistance testing
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Other courses will include clinical effectiveness, advanced
HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, training in GCP,
GCLP quality management systems and grant writing and
these courses will be held locally with co funds from
other capacity training grants such as EDCTP
Expected outcomes: strong competent cadre of scientist/
researchers with increased capacity to publish in peer
review journals
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In addition to exchange visits of scientist and
project managers, the African network will
initiate an exchange undergraduates exchange
program for interns from TanZamBo countries to
be exposed to HIV prevention research their long
vacation.
Joint Yearly TanZamBo forum and meetings and
conference calls.
Expected outcome: Strong networks of
researchers, with joint publications
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To up grade, and equip research labs and
clinical trails units and related facilities at
various sites
◦ Expected outcome: Improved efficiency, quality of
results and research environment.
Community advisory board (CAB)
engagement in HIV prevention research
training in basic facts, in prevention
technologies and HIV vaccine issues,
ethical issues; support to CABs in
community sensitization activities;
training in leadership, advocacy skills for
HIV prevention
: Expected outcome: To have informed
and supportive communities.
 Strengthening
of Review Boards: include refresher
training of institutional and national review boards or
ethics committees in in human subject research with
respect ethic and informed consents in prevention trials.
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Expected outcome: Increased capacity and
efficiency in reviewing proposals
 Creating Platforms for dialogue with policy makers
and researcher for advocacy on HIV/AIDS prevention
research and trials through joint meeting with SADC
secretariat and to target SADC parliamentary
committees, or heads of states summits at the
regional level and country meetings.
 Dialogue with local politicians, government
bureaucrats, other policy makers in country on
importance of HIV prevention trials, research
needs,(technical and financial) and advocacy
strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention and technologies,
and future vaccines research.
The project will assemble a team of experts to come
and monitor and peer review the project activities and
project outcomes and process indicators set in the
activity plan.
Expected Outcomes: Positive progress report that
informs project management and stakeholders
Creating Platforms for dialogue with policy makers
and researcher for advocacy on HIV/AIDS prevention
research and trials through joint meeting with SADC
secretariat and to target SADC parliamentary
committees, or heads of states summits at the
regional level and country meetings.
Dialogue with local politicians, government
bureaucrats, other policy makers in country on
importance of HIV prevention trials, research
needs,(technical and financial) and advocacy
strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention and technologies,
and future vaccines research.
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Project was launched in Lusaka with a
Scientific Conference Focused on HIV
prevention research presented by various
partners within TanZamBo and other partners
working in Zambia such as Zambia Emory,
Partners in Prevention in Microbicide,
project, CIRDZ (University of Alabama
Networking Discussions on Capacity Building
with higher institution of Learning including
University of Zambia, Emory Harvard, McGill,
Alabama and other institute.
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Shaping Up the Network research Project for
our post docs and Fellowship: Possible
network proposal being formulated and
drafted to form a backbone for future
projects for our MSc fellows
Fellows selected and applied to Tumaini
University at KCMC and awaiting to start the
MSc program in October- two year program
in Microbiology, immunology & molecular
biology or MSc in Clinical Research. One year
in class and second year research in their own
countries.
 Creating Platforms for dialogue with policy makers
and researcher for advocacy on HIV/AIDS prevention
research and trials through joint meeting with SADC
secretariat and to target SADC parliamentary
committees, or heads of states summits at the
regional level and country meetings.
 Dialogue with local politicians, government
bureaucrats, other policy makers in country on
importance of HIV prevention trials, research
needs,(technical and financial) and advocacy
strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention and technologies,
and future vaccines research.
 Total
budget is CAD-1.3 million
 BHP WILL BE MAIN RECIPIENT FOR
SOUTHERN PARTNERSApproximately CAD 1 Million
 McGill will be a Recipient for
Northern Partners –CAD-300,000
 BHP will sub grant to Zambia and
Botswana
The project will assemble a team of experts to come
and monitor and peer review the project activities
and project outcomes and process indicators set in
the activity plan.
 Expected Outcomes: Positive progress report that
informs project management and stakeholders.
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The Global Health Research Initiative, IDRC and All
the funders for the support
Dr Mark Wainberg
Dr Max Essex
Dr Saidi Kapiga
Dr Gibson Kibiki
Dr J Shao
Dr Modest Mulenga
Dr Victor Chalwe
Dr Joe Makhema
Ms Chanda Mukenga
The BHP Team
 THANKS
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION