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Dr. Salum Juma Lidenge a medical specialist from Ocean Road Cancer Institute, current undertaking PhD studies in the University of Nebraska-Lincon, has been named among the recipient of the Fogarty award for early career researchers. The project title is Plasma and Cellular Immune Biomarkers of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in HIV-1 Suppressed Patients (Tanzania). The objective of this proposal is to recruit Tanzanian HIV-1 PVL suppressed patients presenting with KS at ORCI, and age and sex-matched co- infected but asymptomatic controls from nearby CTCs in order to define immune responses and metabolomic profiles that differentiate the two groups. The proposed study has potential to identify biomarkers for KS diagnostics, treatment management, or to identify potential immunotherapeutic or vaccine development strategies.
Online statement from Fogarty international center read:
“The grants will help ensure that advanced postdoctoral scientists and junior faculty have a pathway to independence, with protected time for research activities under the guidance of experienced mentors in developing countries and in the U.S”.
Recipients of 14 Emerging Global Leader Awards hold junior faculty positions and research scientist appointments at institutions in Bangladesh and India, and across Africa – in Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.
The programs fund research relevant to the health priorities of the host countries, covering all health-related disciplines. Projects addressing women’s health will explore perinatal depression in adolescents, hypertension during pregnancy and improving cervical cancer detection. Many will be exploring solutions in the field of HIV and related infections, for instance working to better understand and treat HIV-related pain, identify biomarkers for Kaposi’s sarcoma, reduce HIV transmission for young women, improve home-based ART interventions and explore treatments for HIV-associated Multicentric Castleman disease. They will also study treatments for HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis, detection of multidrug-resistant TB, interactions between antiretroviral and tuberculosis drugs, and sex differences in immune response and risk for developing TB.
The new investigators will be researching chronic conditions, such as locally relevant innovations in cardiovascular disease care, and treatments for Burkitt lymphoma and building a mobile application to help detect lung cancer. Some grantees will look into issues unique to their regions, countries and communities: sickle cell disease in infants, the role of genetics in craniofacial and dental anomalies, treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome, and causes of Shigella flexneri infections.
Partners from across NIH are supporting the Center’s career development programs. Funding for the new awards was provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH). Also participating in the related funding announcements are the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Both programs are open for future applications, with upcoming deadlines for Emerging Global Leaders on November 7 and for IRSDA on March 6.
The management of Ocean Road Cancer Institute congratulates Dr. Salum Juma Lidenge for the achievement and wishes him a successful journey in the implementation of the project ahead and would like to encourage other staff to apply for similar initiative.