Abstract #271  -  experience of north-south collaboration for capacity building in HIV prevention research.
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Prof. Marcel Zannou - CNHU
Additional Authors:  Dr. Isaac Minani, Dr. Annie-Claude Labbe, Prof. Severin Anagonou, Dr. Marguerite Massinga-Loembe, Prof. Angélique Ndjoyi, Prof. André Darveau, Dr Fernand Guedou, Dr. Marius-Edgard Ouendo, Mme Michelyne Belleau, Prof Michel Alary,
Aim: The partnership that has been going on for 15 years between the Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire de Québec (CHA), the Programme national de lutte contre le Sida and the Faculté des Sciences de la Santé of Benin, has allowed to carry out several studies aiming at fighting against STI/HIV/AIDS. Among these studies, it is worthy to mention two clinical trials on microbicide gels efficacy. Infrastructures developed through this partnership, such as the STI Dispensary for Female Sex Workers and the STI Laboratory specialized in molecular biology, have given rise to two key ideas: ensuring the sustainability of the efforts and developing regional partnerships with other institutions in francophone Africa.
Method / Issue: ·Strengthening capacities of Beninese research institutions and investigators to enable them to gain better autonomy in obtaining new grants and in carrying out microbicide and rapid diagnostic tests trials on HIVAIDS and STI. ·Expanding training possibilities to other francophone African countries. ·Training of African investigators collaborating with the CHA. ·Support to the creation of the national Ethics Committee for health research. ·Creation of a HIV/STI Prevention Research Unit.
Results / Comments: ·Three students are completing in Canada Master’s (1) and doctorate (2) degrees in epidemiology. ·In May 2008, training of Beninese investigators in writing research protocols and assistance in writing a grant application. ·Participation of 3 African investigators collaborating with the CHA to the International Conference on AIDS in Africa, Dakar, December 2008. ·Observational training in clinical research and laboratory sciences in Canada for 5 physicians and 2 laboratory technicians (Gabonese et Beninese). ·Practical training in clinical and laboratory research, held in Cotonou in November 2007 and November 2008 and bringing together students from Benin, Togo, Gabon, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. ·Visiting scientist awarded to a Beninese investigator for the establishment of collaboration with colleagues at Université Laval, Québec. ·Two laboratory technicians are completing online course on “Introduction to quality assurance” from Université Laval, Québec. ·A functional Ethics Committee (EC) meeting international standards has been put in place, its members trained in research ethics and its working room, repaired and equipped. ·Support to the organization of a meeting of lawyers in Benin, to support the establishement of the legal framework underlying the EC. ·Participation of the EC chairwoman to the 3rd International Francophone Meetings in Bioethics held in February 2009 in Quebec, Canada. ·Creation of a Research Unit on STI/HIV prevention (RUSHP), including repair of offices and equipment.
Discussion: The project has allowed the transfer of skills to West-African investigators to better write grant applications and carry out research projects aiming at HIV prevention. Writing of grant applications will be facilitated by the existence of RHUSP and these protocols could be submitted for review to the EC. Thus, such projects aiming at strengthening individual and institutional capacities to allow African investigators more autonomy in obtaining new grants, initiating and conducting research projects on HIV prevention are to be promoted.
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