# Rustbelt Center for AIDS Research (Case/UHC-Pitt CFAR)

> **NIH NIH P30** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $959,560

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY– RUSTBELT CFAR UGANDA CORE C Revision Overall
The RUSTBELT CFAR is the only CFAR to have a robust international core, the Uganda Core C, which runs
advanced virology and immunology laboratories at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Kampala,
Uganda, and has long been the centerpiece of the CFAR. We have expanded Uganda's highly productive and
unique CFAR activities to include technology transfer of advanced drug resistance, HIV cure, somatic mutation
and DNA methylation assays, and advanced clinical virology tools developed by Pitt. The “RUSTBELT CFAR
Ugandan Faculty Development Program” will be an intensive two-year experience providing start-up funds,
pilot grant awards, salary support, and intensive mentoring in Uganda and through exchange visits to RUSTBELT
CFAR laboratories and Cores. We anticipate sponsoring 3 translational investigators or clinical
investigators during the current iteration of the Rustbelt CFAR, which is funded until 04/30/2027.
Participants’ career development will be fostered by dual mentorship between Ugandan and Rustbelt CFAR
mentors, opportunities for hands-on experiences in clinical studies, and coaching and collaboration in preparing
competitive NIH grant proposals. Support for faculty development in Uganda will not simply be restricted to Core
C activities in Uganda since the entire CFAR clinical and laboratory infrastructure will be used to support
technology transfer and promote research with our Ugandan colleagues. We have included annual working visits
to the US to promote technology transfer, advanced training, and expansion of collaborative activities. The
Clinical Services Core D will provide insights into the maintenance of highly curated clinical specimens and
rigorous sample acquisition for translational studies. Our laboratory-based cores, Viral Pathogenesis &
Persistence Core E and Systems Biology & Biostatistics Core F, draw on research strengths from both
institutions and offer access to cutting-edge emerging technologies for transcriptome and reservoir analyses.
Expertise in HIV prevention (SWG2) and sex-based differences in HIV pathogenesis and cure (SWG1) will add
new dimensions to Core C’s clinical research opportunities in Uganda. USTBELT CFAR investigators have greatly
benefited from attracting talented young investigators from Uganda for advanced training and research in our
laboratories. In addition to exposing us to different perspectives on the challenges of the AIDS epidemic from
people living and working at one of its epicenters, we benefit from their skills and dedication to research. This
new initiative will substantially ameliorate the chronic underrepresentation of translational and clinical
researchers from low- and middle-income countries and enhance the diversity of investigators focusing on HIV-
focused clinical and translational studies throughout the CFAR.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11046857
- **Project number:** 3P30AI036219-28S2
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sharon L. Hillier
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $959,560
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-04-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11046857

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11046857, Rustbelt Center for AIDS Research (Case/UHC-Pitt CFAR) (3P30AI036219-28S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11046857. Licensed CC0.

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