In CanCURE 3.0, we aim to build on our established expertise to provide ongoing training and mentorship to students and trainees.

 

Trainees program:

• Be exposed to cross-disciplinary expertise, including clinical and translational aspects of HIV research, molecular and cellular biology, virology and immunology;

• Gain experience in working with risk group 2+/3 pathogens, viral vectors and oncolytic viruses in BSL-2 and -3 laboratories;

• Use state-of-the-art technologies, such as flow virometry, multiphoton intravital microscopy, single cell transcriptomics and humanized mouse models.

• Present their findings during the Monthly Scientific Calls meetings, where they are encouraged to discuss ideas, challenges, novel strategies and new developments.

 

 In addition, they will develop expertise with the scientific, legal and ethical aspects related to working with animal models, human studies and bio-banking of tissue samples, and pairing it, if so, with the International Infectious Diseases and Global Health Training Program (which is a benchmark in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) http://www.iidandghtp.com/IIDGHTP_PROGRAM.html, because Infectious diseases are not contained within national borders and affect everything from cell biology and genetics to social system band national security. To come up with effective prevention and treatment strategies, a global multi-disciplinary approach is needed.

 

Training rotations program:

• After completion of their 2nd year of training, they will have the opportunity to undertake a collaborative rotation (1-3 months) in other CanCURE laboratories to diversify their research experience.

• Trainees and knowledge users will access webinars on HIV Cure research, organized by Dr. Cecilia Costiniuk (Knowledge Mobilization champion) and Shari Margolese (Principal Knowledge User). This series will rotate between the participating institutions.

 

Annual General Assembly Meeting,

• Trainees will present their findings, interact with other investigators and community members.

• In addition, we will continue our popular pairing program of young investigators with community members (“buddy system”) during annual meetings and national/international conferences.

 

Through this "reciprocal learning experience", trainees are taught to make science accessible to lay audiences while community members convey their perspective and improve their own scientific literacy and research skills relevant to cure research.  You Tube Training Module by Members will be completed and put on the CanCURE 3.0 Website.