UCLA Fogarty AITRP: AIDS-associated Cancers

University Of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): UCLA-AITRP Supplemental Program in AIDS-Associated Cancers The risk of developing Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cervical dysplasia and other cancers is greatly increased in people who have HIV infection. While recent research developments have presented new opportunities for productive research in the area of HIV-associated malignancies, international collaborations involving US-based investigators and those in developing countries have been limited. The objective of this supplemental program to the UCLA-Fogarty AIRTP (AIDS International Training and Research Programs, Dr. Roger Detels, PI) is to provide significant research training opportunities in AIDS malignancies-related research for investigators from developing countries, with the aim of enhancing their ability to conduct research in this area. A secondary objective is to enhance the ability of UCLA-based investigators to carry out research in AIDS-associated cancers, much of which is funded by existing grants from the NIH-NCI, by facilitating international interactions that provide access to unique patient populations, resources, or research collaborations. At this time, there are several active international collaborations in the area of HIV-associated malignancies involving UCLA faculty and researchers in China and Brazil, on topics such as HHV8 molecular virology and pathogenesis, HPV infection and cervical dysplasia in HIV+ women, and the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of AIDS-lymphoma. This supplemental program will be led by Drs. Otoniel Martinez-Maza and Ren Sun, investigators whose primary research interests are the immuno-pathogenesis of AIDS-associated malignancies and HHV8 molecular virology, respectively. [unreadable] This supplemental program will support both medium-term and long-term research training visits by [unreadable] investigators (primarily postdoctoral-level) from developing countries to work with appropriate investigators at UCLA. In addition to individualized medium- and long-term training opportunities, supplemental AITRP funding will be used to sponsor working visits by UCLA-based investigators to interact with collaborators abroad and/or to participate in workshops in developing countries on issues that are relevant to AIDS malignancies research. Short working visits by foreign investigators, including prior AITRP trainees, to UCLA, to develop or maintain collaborations in HIV-associated cancer research, also will be supported. Finally, a limited number of small re-entry seed grants will be provided to select program trainees. Overall, this supplemental program will allow the maintenance and expansion of existing collaborative interactions, will help build the capacity of foreign investigators to do AIDS-malignancies research, and will enhance the ability of UCLA-based investigators to carry out NIH/NCI-sponsored studies in AIDS and cancer. [unreadable] [unreadable]