Vanderbilt-Mozambique Biomedical Informatics (VM-BMI) Training and Research capacity-building program on BMI approaches relevant to women living with HIV (WLWH) in Mozambique

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The goal of the parent project, entitled the Vanderbilt-Mozambique Biomedical Informatics (VM-BMI) Training and Research program, is to capacity-build Mozambican scientists with biomedical informatics (BMI) research skills to address the HIV epidemic in the country. VM-BMI is a collaboration between

Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM, Mozambique) and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (USA) and has three aims, namely: (i) to train faculty fellows at UEM in BMI research applied to HIV; (ii) to develop and implement a BMI track within the existing master’s in informatics program at UEM; and (iii)

to conduct annual HIV-related BMI research workshops and bootcamps at UEM. The current supplement request responds to NIH’s Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) on Catalyzing Research and Training on the Impact of HIV on the Health Across the Lifespan of Women Living with HIV (NOT-TW-24-005). Through this supplement proposal, we will extend the reach and impact of the parent

VM-BMI project by building capacity of Mozambican researchers to better leverage BMI approaches in addressing key research topics that arise among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Mozambique. In line with our parent project, this supplement will have two aims, namely: (1) to conduct a week-long training

workshop on BMI-based approaches to address research topics relevant to WLWH. The workshop will target 20 postgraduate-level participants in health and information sciences from across Mozambique, introducing them to the interdisciplinary research field at the intersection of BMI, HIV and women’s health. (2) Implement a 9-month research certificate program in HIV, Women’s Health, and BMI.

Trainees in the certificate program will gain in-depth expertise in conducting BMI-research with relevance to WLWH through a combination of coursework, seminars, research training, and through implementation of a pilot research project. Funds from the supplement will be used to support two UEM faculty members

to pursue this certificate program.