thumbi ndung’u, bvm, phd doris duke medical research institute university of kwazulu natal

Thumbi Ndung’u, BVM, PhD Doris Duke Medical Research Institute

University of KwaZulu Natal

New Minds, New Ideas: Attracting the Next Generation of

Investigators to HIV Vaccine Research

Challenges Facing African Investigators

Challenges Facing African Investigators

• Although HIV/AIDS is overwhelmingly an African problem, very few Africans are

involved in HIV Vaccine Research

• There is a moral obligation for Africans to get involved and for the global research community to address this disparity. What

are the challenges and how do we address them?

Challenges Facing African Investigators

•Limited research infrastructure

•Limited political will by African governments and institutions

•Lack of capacity for mentorship and grantsmanship

Challenges Facing African Investigators

Challenges Facing African Investigators

• Limited opportunities for career growth- leading to brain drain, vicious cycle

• Economic issues such as poor salaries and cumbersome bureaucracies

• Paucity of rigorous academic/research environments

Opportunities

• In some cases, it is easier and faster to do HIV vaccine research in Africa - study cohorts, cooperative and enthusiastic collaborators who understand the need

• Opportunities for direct impact on communities and institutions

Solutions

• Investment in local leadership development

• Local ownership and attributable credits by collaborators

• Long-term partnerships - facilitators rather than competitors; sustainable funding; Centers of Excellence; exchange programs that work in both directions

Profile of an African in HIV Research

• Degrees from Nairobi and Harvard

• Seed funding from Harvard for a junior faculty position in Botswana

• Great collaborations and facilitation from mentors at Harvard: in Botswana and South Africa

The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute (DDMRI) in Durban,

South Africa. The facility houses the HIV Pathogenesis Programme, a collaborative initiative between Massachusetts General Hospital and

the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine