Operational
since 2000, BIPAI is currently one of 29 AIDS
International Training and Research Programs (AITRPs) nationally. The AITRP began in 1988 as one
of the first of a new generation of research training programs sponsored by the
Fogarty International Center of the United States National Institutes of
Health. The primary goal of the AITRP is
to build multi-disciplinary biomedical, behavioral and social science research
capacity for the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS and HIV-related
conditions for those adults and children affected by HIV/AIDS in collaborating
countries. BIPAI
AITRP collaborating countries are Botswana, Romania, Tanzania, and Uganda .
The
AITRP supports long-term (2-3 years) postdoctoral training in HIV/AIDS research
at Baylor College of Medicine for health-professionals from collaborating
countries. Each Romanian or African trainee is
asked to declare a principal interest in one of three training
tracks: (1) operational research; (2)
laboratory-based research; or (3) public health research. Other aspects of training which are key to
sustaining a long-term research career (ex. library science, scientific writing
and presentation, grant writing, bioinformatics, bioethics, good clinical
practice, good lab practice, biosafety, data management, research
administration, the management of intellectual property, and English as a second
language) are built into all three of these research training tracks.
Short-term
Africa-based or United States-based training of health professionals also is
conducted. Short-term training supports professionals who might benefit from
focused training, usually in pediatric HIV/AIDS care and treatment or clinical
research.
Specific
inquiries about Baylor's AITRP can be addressed to aitrp@bcm.tmc.edu.