# Minnesota-Makerere-Mbarara Neuro-Infectious Disease Research Training Consortium

> **NIH NIH D43** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2024 · $250,400

## Abstract

Abstract
 Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) cause a disproportionate burden of mortality and
morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This D43 training program builds upon an existing, successful
multidisciplinary research partnership focused on CNS infectious diseases which has been ongoing
since 2005, particularly in the realm of HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis and TB meningitis. This new
application proposes a Minnesota-Makerere-Mbarara training program in Uganda for neuro-infectious
diseases with multidisciplinary training in clinical research, biostatistics, epidemiology, immunology,
microbiology, neurology, ophthalmology, pharmacology, and psychiatry.
 The meningitis research platform has in the past decade published >150 manuscripts, enabled 3
Ugandans to secure independent NIH research funding as a PI, facilitated funded PhD training for 6
Ugandans, as well as provided research projects and support for 16 Ugandan Master's students. We
seek to continue this successful partnership and training portfolio through providing translational
research training in the gap after Master's of Medicine (MMed) graduate medical training (i.e.
equivalent to a U.S. graduate medical residency) and before PhD training or research faculty posts.
We propose a 2-3 year intensive mentored research experiences to publish Master's theses, gain new
research skills, generate preliminary data for new projects, and apply for funded PhD training, research
grants, and/or faculty appointments.
The D43 training faculty draws on 19 primary research mentors of whom, 9 are Ugandan, and 10 are
American with a multinational training advisory committee overseeing the D43 program.
Specific Aim 1. Expand needed research expertise in Uganda in the areas of neuro-infectious
diseases by training at least 12 physician scientists. Post-graduate fellowships represent a current
career gap between initial research experiences in MMed graduate medical training and future PhD
training positions and/or faculty appointments.
Specific Aim 2. Build research capacity in Uganda through workshops and short-term training focused
on: scientific communication, leadership, research methodologies, clinical trial experiences, applied
biostatistics, and translational laboratory mentored research experiences in Uganda and with short term
U.S. exchange visits, as needed.
D43 Fellows will have the opportunity to gain clinical trial experience as well as implement nested
research projects into ongoing investigator-initiated randomized clinical trials for cryptococcal
meningitis, TB meningitis, or advanced HIV disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899087
- **Project number:** 1D43TW012266-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** David R Boulware
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $250,400
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-14 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899087

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899087, Minnesota-Makerere-Mbarara Neuro-Infectious Disease Research Training Consortium (1D43TW012266-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899087. Licensed CC0.

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