History of HIV Research Trust

The International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection was set up in 1992. The Scientific Committee decided that unspent funds should be transferred to a charity whose remit was to support researchers in resource-poor countries in obtaining further training and expertise in developing their research programmes. The HIV Research Trust (HIVRT) was established and Trustees were appointed to oversee the allocation of the funding by competitive Scholarships open to researchers in all specialities concerned with HIV infection.

The above congress also links to a web based resource providing  healthcare professionals with emerging data, clinical updates, meeting reviews and latest news in HIV Drug Therapies and this can be found at www.hivdrugtherapy.org

The HIVRT has worked in partnership with the International Aids Society (IAS) in advertising the Scholarships.

Since 2008, the HIV Research Trust has worked in partnership to provide Scholarships for individuals to attend Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute’s course on research methods and current issues in HIV. This has been supported with a view to building capacity in research skills within Africa. For more detailed information you can visit  their website, wrhi.ac.za

Aims of the HIV Research Trust

The HIV Research Trust aims to support a broad mix of disciplines. The Scholarships are for physicians, nurses, scientists, and other health care professionals in resource-poor settings. The award should develop a candidate’s career and, on return to the home institution, add to the capacity of the department to carry out research related to treatment and prevention.

Examples of acquired skills might be; clinical trial experience, good clinical trial practice, data and trial management, acquisition of laboratory techniques and analyses, trial nurse skills, statistical expertise, aspects of ethics, economics, education and health behaviour.