Development of a clinical trials satellite unit of the Canadian HIV clinical trials network at the Infectious Diseases Institute of Makarere University, Kampala, Uganda

This project will establish a unit to study new therapies for HIV/AIDS and the infections and cancers that effect people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, which bears the greatest burden of HIV in the world. Access to good clinical research is an important component of health care delivery in the developing world and provides additional knowledge and educational opportunities for our African colleagues who will collaborate in this initiative. Poor local infrastructure for care and prevention is the norm in Africa, is now improving through funded research activities at Makarere University and Mulago Hospital, and will only be enhanced further with continued investment by units such as the one proposed in this application. In addition, many studies that could eventually enhance care of Canadians loving with HIV can only be carried out where there is unfortunately still a large burden of illness.