IrsiCaixa, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Harvard University set up a pioneer postgraduate programme in AIDS

• The IrsiCaixa Institute for AIDS Research and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have reached an agreement to cooperate with Harvard University Medical School of Boston, the Harvard Global Health Institute and the Ragon Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), USA.
• This week has started a postgraduate programme in Pathogenesis and Treatment of AIDS, that offers theory modules and practicum sessions at two reference centres in AIDS research: IrsiCaixa, supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya,  and the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts.
• This first edition of the course boosts the participation of 10 fellowship students who received grants from “la Caixa” Foundation and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The identification of HIV and its major incidence on the world's population have led to a quantitative and qualitative change in retrovirology research. Advances made in the past 25 years have allowed to gain further knowledge of this virus and to define treatment guidelines, laying the basis for the development of vaccines and eradication strategies and making human retrovirology one of the most dynamic areas of biomedicine. The strong development of this specialty requires specialized professionals with extensive knowledge, both in the field of virology as well as in immunology.

As part of this framework, the IrsiCaixa Institute for AIDS Research, endowed by “la Caixa” Foundation and the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya, in conjunction with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), have reached a collaboration agreement with Harvard University Medical School of Boston, the Harvard Global Health Institute and the Ragon Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the USA to set up a new Masters programme in Pathogenesis and Treatment of AIDS. The creation of this master programme has resulted from the need to train professionals with specific knowledge in clinical and basic research in this area.

The master programme that was started this week offers theory modules taught by internationally renowned researchers, such as Marcus Altfeld, Medical Doctor and associate professor at Harvard University Medical School; and Amalio Telenti, Medical Doctor and professor at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). In addition, the master programme includes practicum sessions at the laboratory facilities of two international reference centers in AIDS research: IrsiCaixa and the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts that coordinates the overall fight against the virus worldwide.

The practicum part of the programme in the United States has been designed to offer a type of training that reflects the worldwide perspective in HIV research. Given the experimental and international vocation of this programme, the first edition only includes a limited number of fellowship students who benefit from a grant offered by  "la Caixa" Social Programme and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The master's degree offers, for the first time, a wide view in the fields of retroviral virology and immunology with special emphasis on antiretroviral treatment, and a strong focus on ways to eradicate the virus, including the development of an effective vaccine, and pharmacological approaches. In addition, particular emphasis will also be given to the study of other retroviruses and their potential involvement in an array of human diseases. This is an action of IrsiCaixa, in collaboration with the UAB-International Campus of Excellence, which provides a boost to its strategic programs, aimed at internationalisation and excellence in teaching and research.

Obtaining a master's degree that provides a multidisciplinary understanding of HIV infection will be an outstanding opportunity for clinicians and researchers wishing to develop their career in this field. In recent years, the disciplines of bioscience in general, and health sciences in particular,  are experiencing an extraordinary momentum in which translational work is playing an increasingly important role and where the clinical aspects are complemented with the knowledge provided by basic research.

In addition, other cooperative actions with Harvard University have been initiated, especially a collaboration with the Harvard Global Health Institute´s International Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (I-SURF) programme. Harvard graduate students interested in this programme can choose to do research abroad, and the UAB-Irsicaixa is now one of the available research sites. In addition, a further cooperation for the exchange of medical students in their last year of Medical School is also being developed.