BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), an African-led organization, aims to strengthen health systems and support African governments in combating HIV/AIDS and emerging infections through collaboration, policy development, and research promotion. Central to this mission is mentoring junior researchers to build their skills and knowledge.

Currently, junior and mid-career researchers, especially women and key populations, are underrepresented in the mainstream presentations at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). To address this, the SAA is launching its Abstract Mentorship Programme (AMP), to connect junior and mid-career researchers with experienced mentors. The program will help with the writing of high-quality abstracts and eventually, publish manuscripts. This should enhance participation at the ICASA conferences.

AMP is independent of the abstract review process. It is designed to motivate and support early-career researchers from Africa to submit high quality abstracts that can make it through the abstract review process.

PROCESS, SUPPORT AND TIMELINES

The AMP will begin on 28 October 2024 with SAA-coordinated webinars on abstract writing, available in both English and French, for SAA youth and junior researcher members. Following this, the ICASA 2025 Conference call for abstracts will open on 3 February 2025. Junior researchers can apply for mentorship, specifying their professional support needs, and will be matched with a suitable mentor according to these needs and AMP guidelines.

The individual and group mentoring sessions, as well as webinars will include one-on-one meetings, small group sessions, and cohort-wide mentoring, tailored to mentees’ needs and mentor availability. The sessions will be conducted online, with hybrid and face-to-face options where possible, including during the ICASA Conference. Mentors are expected to commit to regular interactions with their mentees, including monthly online meetings.

ICASA CONFERENCE TRACKS

Mentor applications are being called for the following five tracks/streams convened at ICASA:

Track A: Basic Science (Biology & Pathogenesis)

HIV biology, host response, including infection, replication, transmission, pathogenesis, immunity, genetics, microbiome, co-infections, and animal models. Key themes include pre-clinical vaccine, microbicide, and drug development. For more details on the track sub-categories please click here

Track B: Clinical Science, Treatment and Care

Clinical features of opportunistic infections, malignancies, severe bacterial diseases, and comorbidities in people living with HIV, as well as issues related to antiretroviral therapy (ART), including response, adherence, retention, and long-term follow-up. Specific focus will be on ART in adolescents, the elderly, and pregnant women, along with emerging topics like aging, frailty, cardiovascular, renal, neurocognitive, and metabolic diseases. Resistance management and salvage therapy, particularly in resource-limited settings. For more details on the track sub-categories please click here

Track C: Epidemiology and Prevention Science
Designing, implementing, and evaluating prevention programs to achieve SDGs, with an emphasis on HIV prevention for vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings. This includes advancing research and best practices, translating prevention research into practice, and promoting preparedness for biomedical prevention technologies. Topics include new approaches like microbicides, vaccines, PrEP/PEP, circumcision, and addressing comorbidities (Hepatitis, TB, STIs) and emerging infections. For more details on the track sub-categories please click here

Track D: Law, Human Rights Social Science and Political Science

Social determinants of HIV risk, vulnerability, and impact, analyzing psychosocial, social, and structural factors that influence attitudes, behaviors, and community vulnerability. Highlight programs promoting diversity acceptance, access to HIV/STI services, and methods for community engagement, empowerment, and leadership. For more details on the track sub-categories please click here

Track E: Health Systems, Economics and Implementation Science

Health economics, integration of health programs, country ownership of national health and HIV programs, and advancement of a comprehensive and integrated approach to health and rights will be discussed. Health systems strengthening and pandemic responses. For more details on the track sub-categories please click here

BECOMING AN AMP MENTOR FOR ICASA 2025

The success of the AMP relies on SAA’s dedicated volunteer mentors who share their expertise to guide junior researchers in abstract writing, paper development, and presentation skills for ICASA conferences ultimately nurturing a generation of African researchers. SAA seeks committed mentors to boost research diversity and junior researcher participation at ICASA conferences. Mentor-mentee pairs will be featured at ICASA Conferences, where mentees will develop abstracts and papers, with the opportunity to publish in the SAA Journal. The AMP aims to increase early career researcher participation and accepted abstract submissions to ICASA by 20%. Female and key population researchers are particularly encouraged to join.

MENTOR ELIGIBILITY

The SAA is looking for experienced and published researchers who meet the following criteria:

• A doctoral degree (PhD) qualification from a recognised university,
• Six years and above of research productivity including conference presentations,
• 10 or more of manuscripts, book or book chapter publications in peer-review journals.
• Expertise in one or more of the ICASA thematic tracks, and
• Evidence of mentoring junior or early-stage researchers,

MENTOR APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants are requested to complete this form and submit the following documents:

• A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) stating prior research mentoring experience,
• Motivation letter (no more than 1 page) highlighting reason of interest in this program

Submissions must be completed online by 30^th September 2024.

The research mentorship program will begin on the 14^th November 2024.

For further details, contact: menitorshipprogramme@saafrica.org