Skip to main content

Malawi HIV Implementation Research Scientist (MHIRST) Training Program

About our program:

Our Malawi HIV Implementation Research Training Program (M-HIRST) builds on 15 years of UNC supported Fogarty-sponsored training activities that have developed a small pool of Malawian researchers with sustainable research leadership. Now, we focus on enhancing the implementation science research skills of 12 junior faculty and 150 junior investigators while also expanding the pool of qualified researchers through post-graduate training (8 investigators). Our goal is to place these talented researchers into research programs at the University of Malawi, College of Medicine (COM), the only medical school in the country. Our program is designed to maximize cost-effectiveness by utilizing existing programs and conducting the majority of activities in Malawi or South Africa. Our faculty members live in or regularly travel to Malawi, thereby reducing travel costs to the program.

Our planned training program includes the following

  1. a Implementation scientific priorities generation workshop with key stakeholders in year 1,3, and 5
  2. provision of annual 1-2 week short courses in implementation science, clinical trial design, epidemiological research, grant writing
  3. mentorship for trainee research and career development by UNC and COM faculty
  4. 4-6 months implementation science internships (2 annually) and
  5. competitive mentored research small grants programs (3-5 grants per year).

Over the grant period, we expect 12 junior faculty to engage in the M-HIRST program, 15 to benefit from small grants, and 150 to participate in short courses (~30/year). To expand the pool of implementation scientists, we will train 2 PhD candidates in implementation science through our collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand, and 6 MPH/MSc candidates through the existing Malawi COM MPH course. Importantly, we will strengthen the COM Research Support Center by establishing an Implementation Science Unit within the Center, expanding a “Mentor the Mentors” program, and providing grants management training. The implementation Science unit will provide a framework for standardized research instruction as the post-graduate training programs expand and support the Faculty Research Track. By the end of the award, we expect to have independently funded Malawian investigators capable of leading the Malawi HIV treatment and prevention implementation science agenda.

Principal Investigators: 

 

Application details, current trainees and alumni information are available on the M-HIRST website. For any questions on the M-HIRST program, reach out to the Fellowships and Training Programs Office.