Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and UCSF received a D71 award to plan a for a cancer research training program in Tanzania. The Global Cancer Program team will collaborate with MUHAS to plan for the development of this program, which, through high quality, rigorous skills development, will aim to empower Tanzanian health professionals to pursue research careers focused on cancer. The goals of the program will be to train and mentor investigators in Tanzania to be capable of implementing and publishing original research focused on cancer and to enhance cancer control in Tanzania through performance of high-quality research and development of sustainable research programs. The proposed program will involve instruction in research methodology pertinent to cancer and global health, and it will include a mentored research project with a cancer focus, providing scholars with support as they gain skills and transition into independent research. During this one-year D71 planning period, the MUHAS and UCSF teams will conduct a needs assessment to explore scholar-training needs; assess gaps in training and mentorship; select a training model; and develop curriculum, mentorship resources, plans, and strategies for scholar retention.

Co-Principal Investigators, Drs. Elia Mmbaga and Katherine Van Loon, presented plans for the D71 award at the Fogarty International Center (FIC) Global Non-communicable Diseases Network meeting in October. The teams are currently planning for the needs assessment and gap analysis, and they look forward to a summit meeting with key advisors and stakeholders in 2019.