PROJECT SUMMARY– RUSTBELT CFAR UGANDA CORE C Revision Overall RUSTBELT CFAR Uganda Core C is a state-of-the-art laboratory with cutting-edge technology that meets the demands of modern-day HIV research into cures, pathogenesis, co-morbidities, and co-infections. The Core is central to the research collaboration between Makerere University (MU), located in Kampala Uganda, the RUSTBELT CFAR and its partner hospitals and institutions. Through the "Microbiology and Immunology Training for HIV and HIV-Related Research in Uganda” (MITHU, D43 TW010319, PI: Boom), we have established a robust pipeline of Ugandan Ph.D. students at CWRU. Historically, our Ph.D. graduates have moved on to become faculty members at MU or have research positions at JCRC. Unfortunately, many of our outstanding students have uncertain futures because of a lack of resources in Uganda. To address this challenge, the “RUSTBELT CFAR Ugandan Faculty Development Program” will engage the infrastructure and outstanding laboratory facilities available through the RUSTBELT CFAR to support and mentor Ugandan investigators returning to the country. We have modeled this effort on the NIH “Path to Independence” awards but include enhanced mentorship and travel to tailor the program to conditions in Uganda. We will also support Clinical Fellows entering HIV clinical research. Each “RUSTBELT CFAR Ugandan Faculty Development Program” participant will have joint Ugandan and CFAR mentors. The mentoring relationship will be specified in a written mentoring agreement that clearly defines the responsibilities of each party. Typically, there will be focused monthly meetings with the primary mentors and semi-annual meetings with the Steering Committee to monitor progress. For translational investigators, topics will focus primarily on HIV cure, HIV drug resistance, and HIV-associated co-morbidities. For clinical investigators, the focus is to gain expertise in designing and conducting clinical trials by inclusion in the operations of the Case and Pitt Clinical Trials Units (CTU) and JCRC Clinical Research Site (CRS), and International AIDS Clinical Trials Unit in Kampala (AI 069501, PIs Jacobson (CWRU, Core D co-Director) Kityo (JCRC)). 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. By leveraging the resources available through the RUSTBELT CFAR, this unique 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.