# Expanding the pool of Independent Investigators in Implementation Science in Nigeria throug h HIV research training (EXPAND)

> **NIH TW D43** · INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY · 2026 · $238,838

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
For more than 15 years, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHV-Nigeria or IHVN) has partnered with
the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland Baltimore (IHV-UMB) to train Nigerian
researchers both locally and in the US. This has resulted in 51 Masters and PhD-holders engaged in HIV
research and leadership careers at IHVN’s International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) and at
collaborating universities and institutions throughout Nigeria. IRCE was established in 2015 to drive IHV-
Nigeria’s research mission: to increase the volume, quality, and capacity for research in Nigeria and West
Africa. To harness their prior training and exponentially increase their impact, it is imperative to mature these
early (trained) investigators into independent (skilled) investigators. In addition, it is important for Nigerian
public health programs that implementers and policymakers have complementary program evaluation and
knowledge translation skills, to address HIV and other health priorities and gaps. The focus of this submission
is to expand local expertise in responding to Nigeria’s HIV epidemic by addressing research leadership gaps
among investigators, and program evaluation and knowledge translation gaps among implementers and
policymakers.
The proposed Expanding the Pool of Independent Investigators in Implementation Science in Nigeria
through HIV research training (EXPAND Nigeria) has four specific aims. Specific Aim 1: To launch a 12-
month, implementation science design-integrated HIV research training curriculum at IRCE, delivered on a
hybrid virtual and in-person platform. Specific Aim 2: To mentor and develop a cohort of five early career
MD and/or PhD-holding scientists trained with the Aim 1 curriculum, to compete for independent research
funding that addresses HIV research priorities relevant to Nigeria. Specific Aim 3: To transition skilled early
career investigators from Aim 2 into active and productive rese

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11251575
- **Project number:** 5D43TW012280-05
- **Recipient organization:** INSTITUTE OF HUMAN VIROLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Alash'le G. Abimiku; Nadia A. Sam-Agudu
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** TW
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $238,838
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01T00:00:00 → 2027-01-31T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11251575

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11251575, Expanding the pool of Independent Investigators in Implementation Science in Nigeria throug h HIV research training (EXPAND) (5D43TW012280-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-17 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11251575. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*