Following the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Sierra Leone College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) and Duke University seek to develop a training program to advance research capacity for viral emerging infectious diseases. Building upon existing relationships with Sierra Leone investigators and leaders, as well as lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak, Duke University will work closely with colleagues at COMAHS to leverage expertise in infectious disease, medical and research training, extensive clinical research expertise and a strong commitment to global health equity in this effort. With receipt of this planning award, we will develop and perform a clinical research needs assessment in Sierra Leone; identify specific clinical research training opportunities at COMAHS that would benefit from Duke's support, experience, and training resources; and conduct a preliminary feasibility assessment of investigators, with the long term goal of increasing the research capacity throughout Sierra Leone. We will bring together the experience of the healthcare community in Sierra Leone and the multiple resources available throughout Duke University and Medical Center together with collaborating entities to create a combination of online and classroom-based didactic training opportunities, “real-world' internship opportunities to observe how clinical research is conducted in various settings, and novel trial simulations in clinical research. This type of collaboration and preparation would help bring together and prepare the healthcare community in Sierra Leone, ultimately enabling their capacity to rapidly implement therapeutic or vaccine trials during a future outbreak. We believe this program is critical to empower West African communities to be able to participate more fully in responses to emerging viral epidemics.

Building upon existing relationships with Sierra Leone clinical investigators and health leaders, as well as lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak, Duke University investigators led by Dr. Christopher Woods and Dr. Nathan Thielman will work closely with Dr. Russell and Dr. Samai and colleagues at COMAHS and other members of the consortium to implement a planning grant for emerging epidemic virus research training in Sierra Leone. With receipt of this planning award, Duke leadership will be responsible for ensuring that named personnel participate in the planning process. Duke key personnel will participate in developing and performing a needs assessment in Sierra Leone; identify specific clinical research training opportunities at COMAHS that would benefit from Duke's support, experience, and training resources; and conduct a preliminary feasibility assessment of investigators, with the long term goal of increasing the research capacity throughout Sierra Leone. To accomplish these aims, the consortium will host two face-to-face meetings, one in Freetown, Sierra Leone and one in Durham, North Carolina. The face-to-face meetings will be supplemented by routine biweekly conference calls. The consortium will produce an international research training grant application to support clinical research training programs for Sierra Leone professionals and students to strengthen global health research and international research collaboration.