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INFORMATION FOR

Lusaka, Zambia

Site Institution: Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ)
U.S. Institution: Yale University
Research Areas: Infectious Diseases, HIV, Health Systems

Site Description:
CIDRZ was established in 2001, as a field office for a U.S.-based university. CIDRZ has evolved into an independent, successful non-profit organization in Zambia, supporting the Ministry of Health in the provision of quality health services. CIDRZ also has strong partnerships with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, and Ministry of Home Affairs, and works across all levels of the healthcare system, including national, provincial, district, and facility. CIDRZ offers a wealth of expertise and infrastructure gained from over a decade of experience in implementing PEPFAR/CDC HIV programs across four provinces in Zambia and as part of a multi-centre, international clinical trial network that included the U.S. NIH (Alabama Clinical Trials Unit – IMPAACT and HIV Vaccine Trials Network), the IeDEA Network, and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development.

CIDRZ has a number of on-going projects centered around our core focus areas: adult HIV care, treatment, and prevention; pediatric, child and adolescent health; reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health; implementation science; primary care/health systems strengthening; basic laboratory science; social and behavioural science; network trials; emerging infectious diseases; enteric diseases; and tuberculosis. The geographic and thematic diversity provides trainees a rare opportunity to partake in research across a wide range of topics and access distinct populations with different healthcare needs and opportunities.

On-going Projects include:
  • ETVAX III- An Epidemiological surveillance study to determine the incidence of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhoea in children and infants in Lusaka
  • EXTVAX Project – A Phase 1 age descending placebo controlled clinical trial to examine the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an oral inactivated ETEC Vaccine (ETVAX ®) with dmLT adjuvant in healthy adults and children in Zambia.
  • HIC Rota study - Human challenge with live-attenuated rotavirus to assess next-generation rotavirus vaccines in Africa
  • NRRV Study – A phase 3 double-blinded randomized active comparator- controlled group-sequential multinational trial to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a trivalent rotavirus P2-VP8. Subunit vaccine in prevention of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in healthy infants
  • Rota-biotic Study – Measuring the impact of rotavirus vaccines on pediatric antibiotic usage
  • ShigOraVax Study- Early Clinical Development of an Oral Shigella Vaccine through Phase II Study in Africa.
  • RotaPlay – An intervention trial of child-caregiver communication on antimicrobial resistance.
  • Alcohol biomarkers – improving measurement of alcohol consumption among HIV-affected youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: evaluation and implementation of biomarkers
  • Common Elements Treatment Approach to treat mental health among patients failing on antiretrovirals
  • The IeDEA Network including:
    • Liver Fibrosis in Zambia HIV -hepatitis B virus (HBV) Co-infected Patients: A Long-Term Prospective Cohort Study
    • DTG-Switch Study Longitudinal analysis of virologic failure and drug resistance at and after switching to doluegravir -based first line ART regimen
    • The Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) among HIV Positive and Negative Adults in Southern Africa
    • Sentinel Research Network for IeDEA: A prospective Cohort of People Living with HIV
    • Adolescents and Young Adults Network of IeDEA (AYANI)
  • RAMP – Clinical Profile of COVID-19 in People Living with HIV (PLHIV) – Lusaka- A Retrospective Observational Study
CIDRZ research is designed to address questions of critical importance to the Zambian people, and to date, over 80 studies have been completed, with 33 ongoing or in preparation, including 11 multicenter trials. Team members have published over 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and made numerous presentations both in country and internationally. CIDRZ has long and strong track record of funding from the US government. In 2020, CIDRZ was awarded a 5-year, $100 million PEPFAR/CDC-funded award, PROUD-Zambia, to support GRZ in implementing HIV programs in CDC-supported provinces. Under PROUD-Z, CIDRZ supports GRZ in ART delivery to over 200,000 people, and routinely reaches key populations and other underserved communities in provinces where 60% of Zambia’s HIV burden is located.

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