Where do we go from here? Entebbe, th Jan 2013 Analysts: Andrew Kambugu Jim Muller Facilitators: Alash’le Abimiku Bob O’Neil

Some key messages from the Forum Entebbe, Jan th Continue to have the AfriCan as a forum of communicating within the networks and consolidating: Mechanisms may include virtual aided by ACO or use of symposium proceedings 2.Use expertise in the south and north (within and outside the teams) for mentoring young scientists, ethical, and regulatory committees. (Manuscripts preparation and submission; grants preparation and submission; on-going support for protocol approval, site monitoring, licensure maybe through engagement of AVAREF or its members). Mechanism of matching strengths with weaknesses perhaps? Informal mentoring network?

3.Are the CHRI networks ready to mount a large vaccine efficacy trial? 4.How do we move from theory to policy in HIV prevention (combination)? 6.Expand the use of “immunonopedia” for practical immunological processes of collecting and processing samples such as those from mucosal sites and some immunological assays 7.Improve the quality of team grants through the inclusion and integration of social science. Find ways of bridging the gap between biomedical researchers and social scientists. Some uniformity of language will help communications Some key messages from the Forum Entebbe, Jan th 2013

8.Expand the use of the CHRI or ACO web site for communications between groups in a user friendly manner 9.Initiatives to increase male partner involvement in prevention (PMTCT, DCs, etc) 10.Seed funding should be provided for trained young scientists (PhD) for postdoctoral mentoring to become independent researchers 11.Pay attention to dynamics and process – Beyond Bums On Seats understanding of capacity strengthening. 12. Ending a funding stream is disruptive and efforts should be made to fund resources and research teams already built from earlier funding Some key messages from the Forum Entebbe, Jan th 2013

13.A clear need to link up teams for synergism to enrich science and power to address a research question e.g. well characterized serodiscordant cohorts across in regions e.g. West Africa (subtype CRFO2) to address HIV vaccines and other biomedical preventions. Exploit the use of this for population genetics for vaccine discovery 14.Is there a need for some kind of repository of all the information that the teams have? 15.Is it possible to improve institutional approvals and MOU process so each team is not going through same complex procedures? Learn from others? Have consortium wide agreements? Some key messages from the Forum Entebbe, Jan th 2013