# Vanderbilt-Nigeria Building Research Capacity in HIV and Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) (V-BRCH)

> **NIH NIH D43** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $303,230

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The Vanderbilt-Nigeria Building Research Capacity in HIV/Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) (`V-BRCH')
program is a coordinated approach to build the capacity of Nigerian investigators to successfully initiate and
implement high-quality clinical trials in HIV-associated NCDs. V-BRCH builds upon long-standing and highly
successful collaborations between two leading research institutions in Nigeria and the United States - Aminu
Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. V-BRCH will solidify an atmosphere
of continuous mentoring and skills acquisition for AKTH physician faculty in conducting clinical trials in HIV-
associated NCDs via short- and medium- term learning opportunities, paired mentoring arrangements and
mentored research projects (Aim 1). We will select three AKTH faculty members per year to attend the highly
effective annual 1-month long Vanderbilt Institute for Research Development and Ethics (“VIRDE”) faculty
enrichment program in Nashville. We will offer two 2-week, on-site workshops in Nigeria every year for
physicians and research staff on HIV-associated NCD epidemiology, clinical trials methodology, and grant
writing. We will identify research-oriented junior faculty staff (n=8) at AKTH for focused training in key areas of
need and in clinical trials administration and regulatory oversight. Scholars will share best practices and
lessons learned through mentoring panels, regular `Works in Progress' meetings, and monthly career
development seminars. Competitive seed grants will be provided to mentor-mentee teams (n=10) to promote
targeted in-country pilot studies focused on HIV-associated NCDs. For long-term training (Aim 2), we will
support enhanced Master of Public Health (MPH) training at Bayero University/AKTH in Nigeria (total: 8
physicians) and Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) at Vanderbilt for 2 Nigerian physician
scientists. We will build institutional capacity in HIV-associated NCD clinical trials research via short-term
regional courses, staff development workshops and MPH curriculum refinement (Aim 3). To take advantage of
complementary courses, peer-to-peer group learning and research networking opportunities, V-BRCH will
leverage training activities conducted by other FIC-funded training programs in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa
(South-South collaborative opportunities). V-BRCH represents the culmination of years of collaboration in
research and training between Vanderbilt and AKTH and will lay the foundation for sustainable development of
clinical trials research focused on HIV-associated NCDs in Nigeria.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9999812
- **Project number:** 1D43TW011544-01
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Muktar Hassan Aliyu
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $303,230
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-22 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9999812

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9999812, Vanderbilt-Nigeria Building Research Capacity in HIV and Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) (V-BRCH) (1D43TW011544-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9999812. Licensed CC0.

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