# Expanded Multidisciplinary NeuroAIDS Research Training to Improve HIV Outcomes in Nigeria

> **NIH NIH D43** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $77,054

## Abstract

Nigeria has a high burden of HIV-related brain disorders (NeuroAIDS), including mental health disorders and
neurocognitive or neurological impairment. Over the last 4 years, the Multidisciplinary NeuroAIDS Research
Training to Improve HIV Outcomes in Nigeria (D43TW009608-03) has developed three NeuroAIDS research
cores with 10 investigators, two observational studies, and trained research support staff, including 3
psychometricians at the University of Ibadan (UI). Reviewing our progress with our Nigerian partners, we have
identified residual gaps, which we propose to address by doubling the number of investigators and
psychometricians through the Expanded Multidisciplinary NeuroAIDS Research Training to Improve HIV
Outcomes in Nigeria. In the Mental Health Core, we will: 1) add implementation science by providing PhD
training to a physician who excelled in the Northwestern University Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
(MSCI) program, and 2) provide focused didactics and mentored research for 3 clinical psychologists/mental
health nurses, thus expand UI's community of NeuroAIDS researchers to include these disciplines that are
currently unrepresented but are key components of Nigeria's mental healthcare system. In the Translational
and Clinical Sciences Core, we will provide intensive laboratory training for a pharmacology PhD candidate,
postdoctoral training to a virologist, MSCI to a neurology/infectious diseases physician, and specialty clinical
research training to a radiologist, all with integrated mentored research. In the Neuropsychological
Infrastructure Core, we will provide postdoctoral neuropsychology fellowships for psychiatrists or neurologists
to produce two experts who will train new psychometricians, as well as lead already-trained psychometricians
and biostatisticians to create transformative capacity for neuropsychological assessment and analytics locally.
Over half of each trainee's time will be in UI. The aggregated capacity of the cores will build into a research
program equipped to lead in: 1) Mental Health Research- e.g., depression, stigma, disclosure, quality of life
and, substance abuse; and 2) Translational and Clinical Research- e.g. understanding the biologic basis and
optimal treatment of HAND; and unraveling the contribution of CNS compartmentalization, ART toxicity, drug
resistance, cerebrovascular diseases, genomics, and co-infections to NeuroAIDS. The program will be
distinguished by neuropsychological assessment expertise and locally standardized assessment instruments
with appropriate norms to provide reliable and valid measurement of neurobehavioral consequences of HIV
and its treatments in Nigeria. Training will be expanded further, knowledge disseminated, and ideas cross-
fertilized through forums that we created in UI, including a monthly NeuroAIDS Collaboratory and a biannual
NeuroAIDS Week with about 150 attendees/year. Manuscript writing and grantsmanship mentoring will prepare
the trainees to b...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10462158
- **Project number:** 3D43TW009608-09S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Babafemi O Taiwo
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $77,054
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2013-08-05 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10462158

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10462158, Expanded Multidisciplinary NeuroAIDS Research Training to Improve HIV Outcomes in Nigeria (3D43TW009608-09S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10462158. Licensed CC0.

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