Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens Research Training Program in DRC (EREP-RTP-DRC)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded high burdens of emerging infections, including Ebola, Mpox, COVID-19, and drug resistant TB in recent years. DRC has a long-term unmet need for durable and sustainable local research capacity and common frameworks for national and regional preparedness to mitigate outbreaks before local and global spread. To address this challenge, we propose the establishment of an Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens Research Training Program in the DRC (EREP-RTP-DRC), based at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) and in partnership with Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa, the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium; and Boston University, the University of California Los Angeles, and University of Pittsburgh in the US. The proposed comprehensive training program leverages relevant expertise from well-established and highly productive South- South and North-South global health research collaborations. The overall objective is to build a critical mass of the next generation of basic, translational, clinical, and public health scientists and technical staff who will become global research leaders capable of responding to emerging and re-emerging pathogens in the DRC. The specific aims are: 1) To acquire research methodology skills through long-term degrees (e.g., Masters, PhD) or short-term non-degree trainings (e.g., postdoctoral fellowships, workshops, laboratory internships); 2) To conduct mentored research projects on Ebola virus disease, Mpox, COVID-19 or drug- resistant tuberculosis to answer new, locally relevant questions and test meaningful hypotheses; 3) To become proficient in scientific presentations and writing, grantsmanship, research ethics and management; 4) To evaluate the outcomes of this program and make adjustments as needed and acquire skills to translate research findings into clinical practice and public health policies. We will achieve these aims using an innovative North- South and South-South triangular mentoring model. Each trainee will have one core mentor based in the DRC and one co-mentor from collaborating institutions. Most long-term trainings will take place in South Africa and research will be conducted in the DRC, while short-term training will take place at any European or US partner institution. After consultation with an independent Training Advisory Committee, a Steering Committee will approve the recruitment, research projects, monitoring, and evaluation of 17 highly competitive trainees (6 Masters, 4 PhD, 5 post-doctoral and 2 lab technicians), each of whom will be supported with a seed research grant and protected research time. Each trainee will have an individualized career development plan that will be monitored during training and for the next five years following program completion.