# Northwestern/Nigeria Research Training Program in HIV and Malignancies (NN-HAM)

> **NIH NIH D43** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $300,803

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The Northwestern/Nigeria Research Training Program in HIV and Malignancies (NN-HAM) addresses a high
priority NIH research area and significant problem in sub-Saharan Africa because of the widespread HIV
epidemic made worse by the high burden of oncogenic viral co-infections. Antiretroviral therapy programs put
into place by PEPFAR, the Global Fund and others, have resulted in a remarkable decrease in HIV-related
morbidity and mortality; however, the rate of certain malignancies are rising while the population is aging. Most
African medical and research institutions are ill-prepared to confront these emerging challenges. Since 2014,
Northwestern University and University of Jos in Nigeria successfully collaborated in a research training
program for HIV and malignancies (Northwestern and Jos University Research Training Program in HIV and
Malignancies, D43 TW009575). Program highlights include: 2 master's degree-level Clinical Investigation
scientists and 2 PhDs in Health Services & Outcomes Research trained; senior faculty enrichment; and 6
mentored trainee pilot awards. We further formed a network with Northwestern, University of Lagos, and
University of Jos to successfully compete for an NCI-funded U54 (Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated
Cancers in Nigeria, 1U54CA221205). This renewal Fogarty HIV Research Training Program for LMICs
proposal will further enhance Nigerian scientists' capacity for large population-based HIV-malignancy research
by training scientists focused on cancer molecular epidemiology. Our primary hypothesis is that building
capacity in molecular cancer epidemiology, biostatistics, and bioinformatics on HIV-associated malignancies
will significantly enhance our understanding of cancer epidemiology and promote mechanistic biomarker-based
research that will inform preventive and therapeutic strategies, ultimately leading to a reduction in cancer
incidence and mortality. This renewal application's specific aims are to: 1. train cancer molecular
epidemiologists capable of: i) designing and conducting population-based molecular epidemiology studies, ii)
developing protocols for biospecimen collection, processing, and storage, and iii) developing biomarkers that
can be used for prevention and improved treatment of HIV-associated malignancies; 2. train several master's
degree-level biostatisticians and scientists in medical informatics and bioinformatics who can manage and
handle data from clinical, laboratory, and population settings, and perform comprehensive biostatistical and
bioinformatic analyses generated from large population studies; and 3. create a multidisciplinary research team
capable of performing advanced in-country molecular epidemiology research, including high throughput “omic”
research, on HIV-associated malignancies at our network sites, University of Jos and University of Lagos. We
will achieve our goals through strong mentorship and research training including: 1 PhD degree and 4 master's
d...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9919014
- **Project number:** 5D43TW009575-07
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lifang Hou
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $300,803
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-05-09 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9919014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9919014, Northwestern/Nigeria Research Training Program in HIV and Malignancies (NN-HAM) (5D43TW009575-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9919014. Licensed CC0.

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