Malawi Training Programs

NCD BRITE – Building Research capacity, Implementation and Translation Expertise

NCD-BRITE is a transdisciplinary consortium that brings together key research institutions, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders to build long-term, sustainable, NCD-focused implementation research capacity. Led by University of Malawi-College of Medicine (Dr. Moffat Nyirenda and Dr. Adamson Muula) and University of North Carolina (Dr. Mina Hosseinipour), NCD-BRITE’s specific aims are to conduct detailed assessments of the burden and risk factors of common NCD; assess the research infrastructure needed to inform, implement, and evaluate NCD interventions; create a national implementation research agenda for priority NCD; and develop NCD-focused implementation research capacity through short courses, mentored research awards, and an internship placement program. The capacity-building activities are purposely designed around the University of Malawi-College of Medicine and Ministry of Health to ensure sustainability. The NCD BRITE Consortium was launched in February 2018. The grant supports mentored research awards, internships, and implementation science short courses and to date we have issued 10 research awards, 3 internships and conducted short courses in implementation science, grant writing, scientific manuscripts, and the QECH NCD seminar series. We have also completed the NCD Needs assessment. In our final year, with the generated research capacity and findings from the needs assessments, we will create a national, actionable, implementation research agenda for NCD prioritized in this consortium, namely cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partnership (SHARP) for Mental Health Capacity Building

Drs. Pence, Hosseinipour, and Masiye have collaborated on the SHARP study since 2017. Funded through NIMH, SHARP focuses on building implementation science capacity in mental health in Malawi. In addition to conducting a cluster randomized clinical trial to evaluate best strategies for implementing depression care into NCD clinics, this grant has several capacity building components for both Malawian and Tanzanian investigators. Specifically, the grant hosts a quarterly journal club, conducts short courses in introduction to implementation science and advanced implementation science and issues mentored grants to policy maker/investigator research pairs. To date, the grant has issued 7 mentored research grants.

UNC-Malawi-South Africa Cancer Consortium (UMSACC)

The UNC-Malawi-South Africa Cancer Consortium (UMSACC) is supported by a five-year, $6-million program project grant (U54) from the NIH’s National Cancer Institute. The consortium is led by a team of UNC researchers partnering with colleagues at three institutions in Africa to study HIV-associated malignancies. The project focuses on screening and diagnosing innovations for three cancers common to people with HIV: Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and lymphoma. A consortium aims to develop international leaders in HIV- associated cancer research and thus a high priority of the consortium is the training and support of junior investigators in the U.S. and Africa.

Mentorship of trainees will focus on design and implementation of hypothesis-driven research, manuscript writing, and development of grants. The project will also leverage ongoing leadership development programs in Malawi to develop a strong pool of research supervisors/mentors for medical and public health trainees. At least 15 mentored research grants will be awarded to promising African and U.S. investigators to support hypothesis-driven research projects and/or obtain preliminary data for larger grant applications related to HIV-associated malignancies. The key investigators for the project include Dr. Blossom Damania, PhD (UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center), Dr.Yuri Fedoriw, PhD (UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and UNC Project Malawi Cancer Program), Dr.Dirk Dittmer, PhD (Program in Global Oncology, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center), Carla Chibwesha, MD, MSc (UNC School of Medicine and Wits University) and Paul Ruff, MBBCh, MMed (Wits University).

For more information, contact Yolanda Gondwe ymgondwe@email.unc.edu

Malawi HIV implementation Research Scientist Training (M-HIRST) Program

Jointly led by Drs. Mina Hosseinipour and Victor Mwapasa since 2015, the Malawi HIV Implementation Research Training Program (M-HIRST) introduced the developing discipline of Implementation Science (IS) to Malawi through its collaborative program between the University of Malawi College of Medicine (COM) and University of North Carolina. Over the past 5 years, we have established a core group of Implementation Scientists by engaging junior faculty, supporting PhD and Master’s candidates and issuing mentored grant awards. This has built a platform on which to launch new IS research, establish an IS thematic area within the COM department of Public health and Family Medicine, and embed IS training into the recently launched Master’s in Global Health Implementation and the Research Support Centre.

By the end of the award, we expect to have independently funded Malawian investigators capable of multidisciplinary research to lead the Malawi HIV treatment and prevention implementation science agenda and mentor the next generation of research scientists.

For more information, contact the M-HIRST Coordinator at mhirstcoordinator@medcol.mw

Malawian Program for Mental Health Research Training (WARMHEART)

Awarded in 2020 by NIMH and lead by Dr. Bradley Gaynes, WARMHEART builds on the strong training track records of and successful collaborations between UNC-Chapel Hill, the Malawi College of Medicine, the Malawi Ministry of Health, and many other partners, we will accelerate mental health research capacity across the lifespan in Malawi by employing a model that emphasizes three complementary dimensions: depth (in-depth investment to create a core of skilled researchers and thought leaders), breadth (engagement of a wide range of stakeholders in mental health research), and reach (building links between research, policy, and practice to maximize impact of research). The Malawian Program for Mental Health Research Training (WARMHEART) will have a tremendous impact on mental health research in Malawi, creating an expert pool of young mental health researchers trained as leaders and able to collaborate with other disciplines and policymakers to address the role of psychiatric illness across the lifespan.

Malawi Cancer Outcomes Research Program (M-CORP) Training Grant (submitted)

To be led by Drs. Lameck Chinula, Yuri Fedoriw, and Tamiwe Tomoka, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Project Malawi Cancer Program proposes to establish the Malawi Cancer Outcomes Research Program (M-CORP) in collaboration with Dr. Benjamin Kumwenda at the University of Malawi College of Medicine (COM). M-CORP addresses high-priority needs identified by UNC, COM and other partners, to develop research expertise aligned with institutional and national goals. The proposal builds on a strong foundation and investment in breast cancer, cervical cancer and lymphoma research in Malawi, well-established collaborations, and engages pre-existing cancer outcomes research training programs at UNC to synergistically expand the global cancer research workforce. M-CORP aims to increase the  cadre of trained  investigators who can pursue independent research careers by: 1) establishing  a robust curriculum  and training opportunities  across  the continuum of cancer  outcomes  research  specific  to the Malawian environment and research priorities; 2) supporting advanced degrees; and 3)  overcoming obstacles  to research independence by providing postdoctoral  opportunities  including mentored pilot grants.

For more information, contact Yolanda Gondwe ymgondwe@email.unc.edu

UNC Lineberger Mentored Pilot Grant Program

The UNC Lineberger Mentored Pilot Grant Program is funded by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC). The program will award 3 grants of up to $10,000 for one year. The awards are intended to serve as a stimulus for new research initiatives aimed at obtaining sufficient preliminary data to allow new applications for funding. UNC Fellows and junior faculty, and any employee of UNC Project Malawi are eligible to apply. Priority research areas for the grants include studies taking advantage of existing data sets (cancer registry and pathology), studies establishing or supporting new disease specific cohorts (such as prostate cancer), breast cancer, cervical cancer, leukemia/lymphoma and pediatric cancers.

For more information, contact Yolanda Gondwe ymgondwe@email.unc.edu