THE CIHR CANADIAN HIV TRIALS NETWORK (CTN) POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM (PFAP): A MODEL FOR TRAINING AND RETAINING YOUNG CLINICAL SCIENTISTS

Background:
The CTN is a nationally funded partnership committed to developing treatments, prevention and a cure for HIV and related health conditions through the conduct of scientifically sound and ethical studies. The CTN is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The National PFAP, established in 1992, offers salary support for career development to outstanding young scientists. The goals are to increase the number of trained HIV/STBBI investigators; to foster a dynamic HIV/STBBI clinical research environment; and to promote collaboration among the pharmaceutical industry, government and scientists in the evaluation of new therapies, vaccines and interventions for HIV and its related health conditions. In 2010 the CTN created an international postdoctoral fellowship award to support the work of HIV researchers in resource limited countries to build local capacity for HIV clinical trials.

Description:
Since 1992, the PFAP has adjudicated 145 peer-reviewed awards to 90 emerging researchers. Each fellow receives a salary award and benefits for a year, renewable once, and is required to develop an HIV/STBBI clinical research or interventional study protocol. Fellows are mentored by CTN affiliated senior investigators. The award protects 75% of the fellow’s time for their research project. If collaborating with an institution in a limited-resource country, up to 50% of the fellow’s time may be spent abroad. The international postdoctoral fellows are expected to have a Canadian and a local supervisor, together they decide on a work plan, budget and a training program that includes components of research, capacity building and knowledge translation to be completed within a year in their home countries.

All fellows attend CTN’s national meetings and present their project at the annual conference of the Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR). The award also allows the fellow to attend one international conference provided an abstract or an oral presentation was accepted. As a “bundled award”, fellows network across disciplines, access experts and collaboration tools, seminars and online courses beyond their stipend.

Lessons Learned:
The PFAP model of “bundled awards” has resulted in more productive investigators. Most CTN fellows continue to do research in HIV-related fields, and a significant number go on to leadership roles in academia and within the CTN. The program’s success has led to increased partnerships with foundations and industry and doubled its PFAP funding by leveraging an additional $ 1 million dollars over this five-year funding term.

Conclusion/Next steps:
For the period 2012-18, 80% of all research publications under the CTN have been produced by fellows. The uniqueness of PFAP is that it prepares multidisciplinary fellows to take leadership roles in HIV research worldwide. Future goals are to expand the model partnering with other networks creating opportunity for innovative research in HIV/STBBIs.

Acknowledgement:
Financial support from BMS, CANFAR, Gilead, Janssen, Merck & ViiV Healthcare