Cooper HIV/AIDS Research Training (CHART) Program

The CHART Program is an HIV regional research capacity building program aims to inspire and increase the number of skilled and experienced researchers in the Asia-Pacific region and identify ways to address local HIV-related priorities. It will generate country-specific research findings to ensure the best scientific evidence underpins regional HIV-related policy and practice. The program objectives aim to support countries and institutions to (i) conduct operational research in accordance with the country’s own priorities, (ii) develop adequate and sustainable operational research capacity in public health programs, and (iii) create an organisational culture of policy and practice that is underpinned by evidence-informed decision making.

The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney is a leading global infectious disease research institute, recognised for its excellence in HIV research. They have a long-standing commitment to strengthening HIV research capacity in the Asia-Pacific region.

About the Program

• The CHART Program will operate over 12 months through a ‘learning by doing’ model that includes three intensive skill-based workshops (5-6 days each) conducted at the Kirby institute, UNSW Sydney, with individual research projects conducted in home countries.
• Successful applicants will be provided with hands-on mentoring both during the workshops, and when they return to their country. As part of the program, participants will prepare reports for national policy makers, and research manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Participants will acquire the knowledge and skills that will prepare them to undertake research projects in their home countries. At the same time, they will generate new knowledge specific to their own countries that will ensure the best scientific evidence underpins regional HIV policy and practice.

Cost Covered

• All travel-related expenses (return economy airfare, accommodation for the duration of the course, ground transportation in Australia, medical insurance and visas) are covered by the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. Participants will be paid a daily allowance while in Australia for meals and incidentals. There are no tuition costs associated with the CHART Program.

Who can apply?

• The CHART Program is aimed at those working in health care, policy or research with an interest in HIV, from one of the listed Asia-Pacific countries below. To be eligible, you must be:
  • Directly involved in HIV prevention, care or management; or
  • Working within the Ministry of Health at a national or provincial level with responsibility for HIV related policy development; or
  • University academics working in public health or clinical research with involvement in HIV research.
• Eligible Asia-Pacific countries: Cambodia; China; Fiji; Hong Kong SAR, China; Indonesia; Japan; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Taiwan; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and Vietnam.
• Please note that Australian residents are not eligible to apply for this program.

Laptop Requirements

• Please note that participants are required to bring a laptop (Windows compatible with administrator rights) to the course and have:
  • an up-to-date patented virus protection software
  • proficiency in file and folder management
  • knowledge of computer organisational structure
  • familiarity with the role and concept of file names and extensions
  • an ability to set up a display of relevant file information (file name, extension, size, and date)
  • an understanding of short-cut keys and using these for efficient copying, pasting, searching and replacing file elements
  • an openness to learn new programs. No prior knowledge of statistical software is required.

For more information, visit Kirby Institute.