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International Center for HIV/AIDS Pharmacotherapy Research and Training (ICHAPRT)
Charles
Chiedza Maponga, Pharm.D., MHPE
Research Associate - ICHAPRT Director
Department of Pharmacy Practice
University at Buffalo
University of Zimbabwe
Email: cmaponga@buffalo.edu
What is ICHAPRT?
The International Center for HIV/AIDS Pharmacotherapy Research and
Training (ICHAPRT) is an initiative of the University at Buffalo School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in collaboration with the University
of Zimbabwe School of Pharmacy. ICHAPRT seeks to establish methods that
have been successful in developed countries and through formalized training
and education initiatives, transfer these approaches to developing countries.
Examples of such areas include the promotion of sustainable access to essential
drugs (antiretrovirals and drugs for opportunistic infections) in developing
countries, as well as pharmacotherapy research covering topics such as
adherence to therapy, clinical pharmacokinetics, adverse drug reactions,
and drug interactions. The collaborative program also aims to provide
long term support for the development of research infrastructure that enhances
the capacity of the developing country institutions to conduct relevant
research on practical and affordable pharmacotherapy interventions in the
management of HIV/AIDS in local populations.
Mission of ICHAPRT
The mission of ICHARPT is to highlight emerging issues in developing
countries and participate in research and information dissemination activities
aimed at:
- Promoting rational distribution and use of HIV/AIDS and other essential
drugs in resource limited settings through research in pharmacoeconomics,
pharmacogenomics, pharmacoinformatics and pharmacoepidemiology
- Providing therapeutic precision assurance in resource limited settings through:
- Promotion of access to good quality drugs by means of pre and
post-marketing bio-equivalence surveillance systems aimed at detecting
substandard and counterfeit products
- Promotion of patients' adherence to therapy
- Provision of therapeutic drug monitoring, drug interaction,
and adverse drug reaction monitoring services
- Conduction of innovative clinical research in the areas of
applied pharmacotherapy, drug therapy management, pharmacokinetics,
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.
Priorities
Key priorities of the ICHAPRT include:
- Use of facilities that include established programs in drug procurement,
medication adherence support, and management of HIV-infected patients to
facilitate implementation of similar initiatives in resource poor settings
- Promotion of intellectual and technology transfer through sequential
visits between the collaborating institutions to allow for rapid implementation
of shared pharmacotherapy initiatives
- Collaboration among individuals with common areas of research interest
to foster an interactive environment that stimulates grant submission and
innovative research methods
- Didactic and research training for doctoral and post-doctoral candidates
seeking to pursue careers in pharmacotherapy research
- High quality drug development (pre-clinical, Phase I-III) environment
and a clinical infrastructure for optimizing the therapeutic use of
pharmacologic agents during the post-approval period (Phase IV)
- Clinical research in an ethical manner focusing on the protection
of human subjects, with operating procedures that conform with international
standards for the conduct of clinical trials and analytical laboratory
programs in accordance with Good Laboratory and Clinical Practice
- Exchange of research ideas through a regular seminar program with
presentations by faculty as well as national and international visiting
scholars.
Academic Collaborations:
Associated Clinical Research Sites:
Available resources
- Nature of Facility at Buffalo:
- The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences AIDS Research Laboratory has extensive experience with measuring
antiretroviral drug concentrations. The Laboratory for Antiviral
Research is capable of providing fellowship training for pharmacists/pharmacologists
in clinical pharmacokinetic monitoring of antiretrovirals. The Laboratory
is a participant in the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG)
programs in the USA.
- The University at Buffalo HIV Adherence-Pharmacology Unit located
at the Erie County Medical Center. The Clinic uses a computerized
system called the Buffalo AIDS Research Cohort (BARC II). The BARC II
database provides a tool to prospectively monitor patient responses
to HIV therapy, track adherence, concomitant disease states, and
screen for adverse drug effects and drug interactions.
- Nature of Facility in Zimbabwe:
- A Clinical Pharmacokinetics Laboratory exists in the Drug and
Toxicology Information Service (DaTIS), Pharmacy Department in the
University of Zimbabwe Medical School. The service provides TDM
consultancy for aminoglycosides, anticonvulsants, cyclosporin,
digoxin, and toxicology of abused substances.
Available Research and Training programs:
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