title: Building capacity for the assessment of HIV drug resistance: experiences from the PharmAccess African Studies to Evaluate Resistance network.
abstract: The PharmAccess African Studies to Evaluate Resistance (PASER) network was established as a collaborative partnership of clinical sites, laboratories, and research groups in 6 African countries; its purpose is to build research and laboratory capacity in support of a coordinated effort to assess population-level acquired and transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type-1 drug resistance (HIVDR), thus contributing to the goals of the World Health Organization Global HIV Drug Resistance Network. PASER disseminates information to medical professionals and policy makers and conducts observational research related to HIVDR. The sustainability of the network is challenged by funding limitations, constraints in human resources, a vulnerable general health infrastructure, and high cost and complexity of molecular diagnostic testing. This report highlights experiences and challenges in the PASER network from 2006 to 2010.
authors.affiliation: PharmAccess Foundation and Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, the Netherlands. r.hamers@aighd.org
authors.forename: Raph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hamers
authors.forename: Elske
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Straatsma
authors.forename: Cissy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kityo
authors.forename: Carole L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wallis
authors.forename: Wendy S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Kim C E
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sigaloff
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siwale
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conradie
authors.forename: Mariette E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Botes
authors.forename: Kishor
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mandaliya
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wellington
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osibogun
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Tobias F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Rinke de Wit
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057191:Capacity Building; D003906:Developing Countries; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents