Epidemiology

Our leading cancer and HIV epidemiologists, oncologists, and laboratory scientists work with the  pre- and postdoctoral trainees and with colleagues in South Africa who are providing clinical care, conducting trials, and collecting specimens for study. Trainees take courses at CU and/or the collaborating universities in South Africa. Some trainees may acquire specific expertise in needed laboratory techniques; others may be trained in patient-oriented clinical research or public-health oriented epidemiology (potentially applicable to building a much-needed population-based cancer registry). All trainees receive mentoring from our faculty, and all participants are committed to building long-term collaborations and research capacity on HIV-related malignancies in resource-limited settings (e.g., development of a quick, low-cost KS test).

The purpose of our program is to strengthen the capacity to conduct research on HIV-associated malignancies in South Africa. For that purpose, six priority research training needs have been identified:

1. Epidemiological, biostatistical, and data management skills to provide the capacity to design and undertake prevention and treatment trials, including special emphasis on more complex designs including combination prevention interventions, applying knowledge from proven interventions in prevention and treatment, and integrating data from multiple scientific disciplines
2. Skills to undertake implementation science research, including clinical and operational research and program monitoring and evaluation to enhance patient management and support evidence-based policy formulation and programmatic implementation
3. Basic science and laboratory skills to enhance understanding of immunological and virological changes around early/acute HIV infection and cancer, in the presence and absence of prophylactic and therapeutic use ARVs, and of TB, with an eye toward possible drug development
4. Capacity to undertake empiric research on ethical issues emerging in the context of clinical trials relevant to HIV-associated malignancies
5. Focused practical training for implementing and conducting clinical trials
6. Strengthening social science and basic science research to deepen understanding of and to enhance adherence in treatment and prevention