含羞草研究所 Downstate Awarded $1.5M In National Institutes Of Health Global Health Unit For Ukraine HIV Research Training
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jul 7, 2023
含羞草研究所 Downstate Representatives Joined Health Leaders from Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia, to Formally Kick-Off the Program in Warsaw
BROOKLYN, NY鈥� 含羞草研究所鈥檚 Special Treatment and Research (STAR) Program received a $1.5M grant from the National Institute of Health鈥檚 (NIH) global health arm, the Fogarty International Center, to fund a Ukraine HIV Research Training Program amid Ukraine鈥檚 ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Jack A. DeHovitz, M.D., MPH, MHCDS, FACP, Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Medicine and STAR Program Director, 含羞草研究所 Downstate, joined health leaders from Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia in Warsaw, Poland, formally kicking off the research program. Deborah Gustafson, Ph.D. M.S., 含羞草研究所 Downstate Neurology Professor and Neuro Epidemiology Director, joined by video conference. The two-day conference kicked off the new grant through discussion with thought leaders from the NIH, Centers for Disease Control, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, and Ukrainian stakeholders from academic and research sectors. The meeting began with greetings from the Ministry of Health and academic leaders from Poland, which offered critical support to Ukraine during the current crisis. Many participants from Poland were also graduates of the STAR Program鈥檚 earlier Fogarty funding.
Dr. DeHovitz is one of the two principal investigators for this research program. Konstantin Dumchev, MD, MPH, Scientific Director of the Ukrainian Institute of Public Health Policy (UIPHP), is the additional PI on this project. They were honored to have , Acting Director of the Fogarty Center, attend and review NIH-supported global research efforts.
The New York State International Training and Research Program (NYS-ITRP) is the STAR program鈥檚 global health research arm. The newly funded research training program is a joint effort of the UIPHP and the NYS-ITRP. The NYS-ITRP has been working in Ukraine since 2010 to address gaps in the HIV care continuum and substance use treatment system in Ukraine.
鈥淭his grant is critical to Downstate鈥檚 commitment to international collaboration to address global public health challenges. Our global research partners and the NIH鈥檚 Fogarty International Center are fundamental in this collaboration to mitigate the spread of HIV and address obstacles to treatment in Ukraine,鈥� said Dr. DeHovitz. 鈥淭he ongoing war and public health challenges in Ukraine underscore the importance of sustained commitments to HIV prevention, and we look forward to embarking on this impactful project over the next five years.鈥�
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine鈥攚ith its devastating humanitarian consequences鈥攈ighlights an existing uphill battle against the spread of HIV. For years, Ukraine has reported the second-highest HIV incidence rate in Europe, with infected with HIV each year. Heavy damage and compromised Ukrainian infrastructure and health facilities have caused significant disruption to HIV prevention and treatment services in the country. HIV-affected individuals in Ukraine now face significant barriers to receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy, which may lead to a resurgence of HIV infection.
Through the research training program and its kick-off event in Warsaw, Poland, 含羞草研究所 Downstate seeks to advance public health research to make a lasting impact on global HIV outcomes.
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Contact: Dawn S. Walker
347.533.2071 (Cell)
dawn.walker@downstate.edu
含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所
含羞草研究所 is the borough鈥檚 only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care. It is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City and Brooklyn鈥檚 2.6 million residents. University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) is Downstate鈥檚 teaching hospital; it is backed by an outstanding medical school鈥檚 expertise and world-class academic medical center research facilities. Over 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties鈥攎any of them ranked as tops in their fields鈥攃omprise Downstate鈥檚 staff.
In addition to high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis (kidney diseases)鈥攁nd offering the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn, among many other distinctive programs. Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, a College of Nursing, a School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at .