Training Program in Translational Behavioral Science in HIV and Mental Health - HIV continues to be a major health concern in the U.S., impacting all groups of individuals across the country. People at risk for, or living with, HIV experience numerous other health issues, including mental health problems, substance use, and various physical health outcomes. Life stressors are linked to HIV-related outcomes and mental health, driven by various biopsychosocial processes. Further, HIV does not occur in vacuum; multiple, comorbid health-related issues interact synergistically to form a “syndemic” that drives HIV incidence and HIV care outcomes in the U.S. In order to rapidly address these issues, we need skilled translational scientists who can delineate the mechanistic processes driving negative HIV prevention and care outcomes, translate findings into interventions, and implement programs with communities. Built on the infrastructure of Northwestern’s Impact Institute, the Training Program in Translational Behavioral Science in HIV and Mental Health will support promising scientists in building the skills necessary to understand these complex relationships and improve HIV prevention and care outcomes for populations across the U.S. NU-THRIVE aims to train postdoctoral fellows in research methods across the Translational Science Spectrum through a rigorous program in which they will: 1) specialize and gain depth of knowledge in 2 Translational Science Skill Domains (i.e., Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Methods, Interventions & Trials, Implementation Science) through mentored research; and 2) gain breadth of knowledge in all 4 domains through a formal training curriculum. NU-THRIVE will support 3 new postdoctoral fellows per year, on 2-year appointments. We expect a majority will have a PhD (behavioral/social science) and a smaller number will be MD physician-scientists. Fellows will select 1 Primary and 1 Secondary Mentor. Primary Mentors are faculty who focus primarily on HIV and/or mental health. Secondary Mentors come from a range of disciplines and have expertise complementary to the aims of NU-THRIVE but may work outside of or adjacent to HIV and mental health. Fellows will gain knowledge and skills in 7 core competencies: 1) translational science in HIV and mental health; 2) biopsychosocial drivers of HIV, mental health, & associated comorbidities; 3) developmental lifespan & environmental influences on HIV, mental health, & comorbidities; 4) team science skills; 5) ethics & responsible conduct of research; 6) writing, dissemination, & grantsmanship; 7) professional & career development. NU-THRIVE training modalities will include mentored research activities, a didactic seminar series, intensive trainings in translational science methods, structured writing support, and other activities available in the rich Northwestern environment. NU-THRIVE will place fellows at the forefront of HIV and mental health research, with the goal of more rapidly moving basic science discoveries to efficacious interventions and onward toward implementation.
