Research Training: Chronic Non-communicable CVDs and Comorbidities in Peru

PROJECT SUMMARY MPIs: de las Fuentes, Lisa; Davila-Roman, Victor G.; Málaga, German; Hartinger, Stella D43 Project Title: “Research Training: Chronic Non-communicable CVDs and Comorbidities in Peru” Project start / end: 9/1/2021-8/31/2026 Chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of M&M worldwide and in Peru. In addition to the

usual CVD risk factors, social factors such a low socioeconomic status and environmental exposure further contribute to chronic CVD burden. Among non-communicable diseases (NCDs), high prevalence of hypertension with low rates of awareness, treatment and control represent an important health care gap that contributes to

CVD burden in Peru. This application for D43 Training Grant represents a collaboration between US investigators (Washington University in St. Louis and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore) and Peruvian investigators (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, AB PRISMA in Lima and Puno). The D43 training program will leverage existing research

projects and infrastructure in Peru to train Peruvian scientists and health professionals in chronic NCDs/CVD. Our group has been successful in securing grant support (i.e., NIH, Gates Foundation); however, the limited number of Peruvian investigators conducting and leading NCD/CVD studies represents a significant barrier to

implementing an effective and sustainable NCD/CVD research program. The proposed training program will provide support (tuition, stipend, research funds) for 14 trainees over five years: 8 master’s, 4 PhD, and 2 postdoctoral Peruvian trainees and/or junior faculty. The objectives of this structured program are to develop

the research careers of trainees in the areas of chronic CVD, stroke, implementation science, and environmental exposure; to provide mentoring and support by an internationally renowned faculty with multidisciplinary expertise; and to provide opportunities for career advancement and engagement in research projects. The

program will provide intensive training opportunities and build capacity in a range of scientific disciplines and skills relevant to achieving research independence. The long-term goal of this program is to build a sustainable and collaborative research-training infrastructure to develop Peruvian research scientists capable of designing

and executing interventions addressing unmet healthcare needs, including the translation of evidence-based interventions and the implementation and dissemination of effective policies to improve public health in Peru. This application is responsive to partnering institutions of PAR-18-901 including the NHLBI (HTN/CVD), Fogarty

International Center (global health and LMIC), National Institute of Aging (NCDs including CVD/HTN), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (stroke), and National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (environmental exposure as risk factors for NCDs/CVD). The ultimate goals of this D43 training program are

twofold: 1) to equip outstanding junior investigators with the necessary expertise to solve challenging problems presented by the burden of chronic NCDs/CVD in Peru; and 2) to complete a full transition of program administration and leadership from the US to Peruvian MPIs, faculty, and institutions by D43 Year 5.