Division of Biology and Medicine
Center for Global Health Equity

This training grant between Brown University (Providence, RI), its Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) partner Boston University (Boston, MA), and several non-monetary collaborating institutions in Ukraine, including the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (“NaUKMA;” Ukraine), and the Alliance for Public Health (“APH;” Ukraine). This initiative will enhance high priority research capacity aiming to improve equitable access to HIV care in humanitarian settings in Ukraine and globally. It will train researchers supporting high quality prevention and care across the HIV care continuum in conflict and post-conflict settings, including the care of persons coinfected with tuberculosis (TB) and other HIV comorbidities, such as substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health conditions. The conflict in Ukraine has seen unprecedented and systematic attacks against health workers and devastating destruction of medical facilities, which has disrupted these processes. Significant rates of internal displacement, affecting over 6 million people, have diminished the availability of medical and research personnel, as well as disrupted treatment for people with HIV (PWH). This is significant as Ukraine has among the highest burden globally of HIV and TB, including multidrug-resistant TB. Expanding clinical innovations in HIV care (including care for people with HIV/TB coinfection and other comorbidities, such as SUD and mental health conditions) is critical to improve health outcomes for individuals in humanitarian settings. Our training collaboration has potential to develop new models for implementing the HIV care continuum in humanitarian crises. Lessons learned and new models for diagnosis and monitoring, linkage, and maintaining care in settings of severe health systems disruptions are of enormous importance globally, including in resource-limited and disaster-risk areas of the United States and its territories.