Advance-CTR

Training for Early-Career HIV Researchers

Hosted by the Brown Center for Health Equity and Health Promotion & The University of Washington 

The CCRT program is an educational and mentoring program to promote training in clinical and community-based research for new investigators who are from or who conduct research in geographic hotspots of HIV infection. The CCRT Program aims to train the next generation of researchers to end the HIV epidemic and to conduct research related to reducing racial disparities in HIV outcomes.

The CCRT program aligns with the US Plan to End the HIV Epidemic (EtHE). The program prioritizes training investigators from communities historically underrepresented in the sciences, with emphasis on training investigators from or conducting practice-oriented research in geographic hotspots of HIV infection, with a focus on the Southern US.

This mentoring program trains scholars in HIV disparities and health equity research, community-engaged research, geographically circumscribed interventions, and implementation science through partnerships with health departments and proven HIV prevention and care interventions through novel means in the rural South. This program is led by Dr. Amy Nunn, Professor of Public Health and Medicine at Brown University.

Training & Mentoring

The program aims to train the next generation of researchers in the communities most heavily impacted by the HIV epidemic to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to reduce racial disparities in HIV prevention and care, including HIV screening, PrEP, and HIV treatment.

This training includes formal coursework, quarterly mentoring workshops, one-on-one mentoring, epidemiological design, and clinical service delivery experiences in real-world clinical and community settings. Program scholars will participate in a 2-year curriculum designed to train junior investigators to lead scientific initiatives to address social, structural and behavioral drivers of the HIV epidemic; lead clinical, epidemiological and implementation research to mitigate HIV disparities; and develop, implement, and evaluate culturally appropriate and geographically circumscribed interventions.

This program will have a focus, but not be limited to, the Southern US. Scholars will be paired with mentors to develop individualized training plans in alignment with the core curricula and scholars' individual goals. Scholars are expected to participate in all core workshops and webinars.

Application & Eligibility

Eligible applicants have a doctoral degree (e.g. MD, PhD, DrPH) or are currently enrolled in a doctoral program related to health sciences or health professions. Scholars may be eligible for tuition and travel assistance for program workshops, academic conferences, and professional development activities. There is no salary support associated with this program.

Scholars may be eligible for academic and professional development activities for up to five years following their acceptance into the program. The fellowship includes didactic training in clinical, behavioral or translational research as well as structured mentoring with a Brown University or University of Washington faculty member. The goal of the program is for trainees to develop successful research careers in the area of HIV/AIDS and health disparities as evidenced by abstracts, publications, and grant support.

The 2021-2022 curriculum year will be held virtually over zoom, and applicants from across the country are encouraged to apply. Plans to return to in-person curriculum events will be contingent upon the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To receive an application link please send your CV and one paragraph statement of interest to Kerri Connolly at brownccrt@brown.edu. Full applications must be received by October 1, 2021.