Attracting, equipping and retaining young medical doctors in HIV vaccine science in South Africa

Background: HIV remains a significant health problem in South Africa (SA). The development of a preventive vaccine offers promise as a means of addressing the epidemic, yet development of the human resource capacity to facilitate such research in SA is not being sustained. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) has responded by establishing South African/HVTN AIDS Early Stage Investigator Programme (SHAPe), a programme to identify, train and retain clinician scientists in HIV vaccine research in SA. Objectives: The present study sought to identify factors influencing the attraction and retention of South African medical doctors in HIV vaccine research; to understand the support needed to ensure their success; and to inform further development of clinician research programmes, including SHAPe. Methods: Individual interviews and focus groups were held and audio-recorded with 18 senior and junior research investigators, and medical doctors not involved in research. Recordings were transcribed, and data were coded and analysed. Results: Findings highlighted the need for: (1) medical training programmes to include a greater focus on fostering interest and developing research skills, (2) a more clearly defined career pathway for individuals interested in clinical research, (3) an increase in programmes that coordinate and fund research, training and mentorship opportunities and (4) access to academic resources such as courses and libraries. Unstable funding sources and inadequate local funding support were identified as barriers to promoting HIV research careers. Conclusion: Expanding programmes that provide young investigators with funded research opportunities, mentoring, targeted training and professional development may help to build and sustain SA’s next generation of HIV vaccine and prevention scientists

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Background: The shift from solitary to social behavior is one of the major evolutionary transitions. Primitively eusocial bumblebees are uniquely placed to illuminate the evolution of highly eusocial insect societies. Bumblebees are also invaluable natural and agricultural pollinators, and there is widespread concern over recent population declines in some species. High-quality genomic data will inform key aspects of bumblebee biology, including susceptibility to implicated population viability threats. Results: We report the high quality draft genome sequences of Bombus terrestris and Bombus impatiens, two ecologically dominant bumblebees and widely utilized study species. Comparing these new genomes to those of the highly eusocial honeybee Apis mellifera and other Hymenoptera, we identify deeply conserved similarities, as well as novelties key to the biology of these organisms. Some honeybee genome features thought to underpin advanced eusociality are also present in bumblebees, indicating an earlier evolution in the bee lineage. Xenobiotic detoxification and immune genes are similarly depauperate in bumblebees and honeybees, and multiple categories of genes linked to social organization, including development and behavior, show high conservation. Key differences identified include a bias in bumblebee chemoreception towards gustation from olfaction, and striking differences in microRNAs, potentially responsible for gene regulation underlying social and other traits. Conclusions: These two bumblebee genomes provide a foundation for post-genomic research on these key pollinators and insect societies. Overall, gene repertoires suggest that the route to advanced eusociality in bees was mediated by many small changes in many genes and processes, and not by notable expansion or depauperation

Abstracts from the 8th International Conference on cGMP Generators, Effectors and Therapeutic Implications

This work was supported by a restricted research grant of Bayer AG

Fellowship networks in community leadership development programs : a case study

The field of Leadership Development began over a half-century ago, led by the philanthropic institutions in the United States, such as Coro Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. More recently, in the past ten years, there has been a strong focus on supporting the development of effective grassroots leaders through community leadership development programs. As participants have graduated from these programs, a critical mass of grassroots leaders have begun to make an even stronger impact in addressing systematic social change in their communities. While there is significant literature on different theories and models in the Leadership Development field regarding the structural and programmatic issues in leadership development programs, there is a minimal amount of information about the experiences of participants after graduation. The goal of conducting this study was to contribute new, in-depth knowledge about how to support graduates of community leadership development programs after the completion of a formal training program. The objective of this case study was to describe the development of one fellowship network and the perceptions of seven members’ experiences in order to understand the role of support systems for grassroots leaders that are addressing long-term community change. This thesis begins with a literature review on the topic of grassroots leaders and community leadership development programs and then goes on to a description of this study’s research methodology, the context of the case that was studied, the themes that emerged from the grassroots leaders’ experiences and concludes with recommendations for further research. This paper is intended to provide readers with a better understanding of the structure and process of one fellowship network and how grassroots leaders perceive their experiences as members of this network

Fellowship networks in community leadership development programs : a case study

The field of Leadership Development began over a half-century ago, led by the philanthropic institutions in the United States, such as Coro Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. More recently, in the past ten years, there has been a strong focus on supporting the development of effective grassroots leaders through community leadership development programs. As participants have graduated from these programs, a critical mass of grassroots leaders have begun to make an even stronger impact in addressing systematic social change in their communities. While there is significant literature on different theories and models in the Leadership Development field regarding the structural and programmatic issues in leadership development programs, there is a minimal amount of information about the experiences of participants after graduation. The goal of conducting this study was to contribute new, in-depth knowledge about how to support graduates of community leadership development programs after the completion of a formal training program. The objective of this case study was to describe the development of one fellowship network and the perceptions of seven members’ experiences in order to understand the role of support systems for grassroots leaders that are addressing long-term community change. This thesis begins with a literature review on the topic of grassroots leaders and community leadership development programs and then goes on to a description of this study’s research methodology, the context of the case that was studied, the themes that emerged from the grassroots leaders’ experiences and concludes with recommendations for further research. This paper is intended to provide readers with a better understanding of the structure and process of one fellowship network and how grassroots leaders perceive their experiences as members of this network

Implementation of targeted screening for poverty in a large primary care team in Toronto, Canada: a feasibility study

Abstract Background Poverty has a significant influence on health. Efforts to optimize income and reduce poverty could make a difference to the lives of patients and their families. Routine screening for poverty in primary care is an important first step but rarely occurs in Canada. We aimed to implement a targeted screening and referral process in a large, distributed primary care team in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The main outcome was the proportion of targeted patients screened. Methods This implementation evaluation was conducted with a large community-based primary care team in north Toronto. The primary care team serves relatively wealthy neighborhoods with pockets of poverty. Physicians were invited to participate. We implemented targeted screening by combining census information on neighborhood-level deprivation with postal codes in patient records. For physicians agreeing to participate, we added prompts to screen for poverty to the charts of adult patients living in the most deprived areas. Standardized electronic medical record templates recommended a referral to a team case worker for income optimization, for those patients screening positive. We recorded the number and percentages of participants at each stage, from screening to receiving advice on income optimization. Results 128 targeted patients with at least one visit (25%) were screened. The primary care team included 86 physicians distributed across 19 clinical locations. Thirty-four physicians (39%) participated. Their practices provided care for 27,290 patients aged 18 or older; 852 patients (3%) were found to be living in the most deprived neighborhoods. 509 (60%) had at least one office visit over the 6 months of follow up. 25 patients (20%) screened positive for poverty, and 13 (52%) were referred. Eight patients (62% of those referred) were ultimately seen by a caseworker for income optimization. Conclusions We implemented a targeted poverty screening program combined with resources to optimize income for patients in a large, distributed community-based primary care team. Screening was feasible; however, only a small number of patients were linked to the intervention Further efforts to scale and spread screening and mitigation of poverty are warranted; these should include broadening the targeted population beyond those living in the most deprived areas