Population Council Wins Award for HIV/AIDS Research and Evaluation
NEW YORK, NY (23 March 2007)—The US Agency for International
Development (USAID) awarded the Population Council one of five indefinite
quantity contracts for Project SEARCH—Supporting Evaluation and Research
to Combat HIV/AIDS to further HIV and AIDS research and evaluation in
developing countries.
Made possible through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR), the goal of the project is to carry out research and evaluation to
improve the coverage, quality, and effectiveness of HIV and AIDS prevention,
care, and treatment programs worldwide, and to strengthen local capacity in
HIV and AIDS research and public health evaluations through training and
in-country collaborations.
To meet this goal, the Population Council has forged a consortium
offering high-quality applied research and evaluation conducted in close
collaboration with in-country partners, dissemination that results in the
use of research and improved programs, capacity-building of developing
country counterparts, and the inclusion of new PEPFAR partners. The
Council’s consortium includes the following core partners: the African
Population and Health Research Center in Nairobi, Kenya; the Institute of
Human Virology at the University of Maryland; Population Services
International; the University of Southampton, UK; and Westat, Inc.
- The Population Council—an international, nonprofit,
nongovernmental organization that conducts biomedical, social science,
and public health research—leads the consortium with more than 50 years
of practical research experience in developing countries. Much of this
research has led to documented improvements in the delivery of
reproductive health care and HIV and AIDS services in many developing
countries.
- The African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in
Nairobi, Kenya, established in 1995 with technical support from
Population Council, is now a leading African research institute. APHRC,
a new USAID partner, designs and conducts policy-relevant research in
population and health issues and strengthens research capacity in
sub-Saharan Africa.
- The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of
Maryland brings together renowned virology experts in basic,
epidemiological, and clinical research. IHV scientists work on
developing diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic
and deadly viral and immune disorders—most notably HIV.
- Population Services International (PSI) is a pioneering
social marketing organization with operations in more than 65 countries.
- The University of Southampton, a new partner to USAID and a
top British research university, conducts interdisciplinary and
policy-relevant research on key global health and development issues,
including HIV and AIDS.
- Westat, Inc. focuses on training and supporting overseas
investigators in conducting clinical research that complies with US
Government and international standards. It has supported HIV and AIDS
research projects in more than 21 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America and the Caribbean.
In addition, the Council’s consortium includes three small business
technical firms that provide technical expertise in HIV and AIDS applied
research and specialized support in data management and new technology
development. These partners are:
- Artha, LLC
- The QED Group, LLC
- Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc.
The Council’s consortium has relationships with more than 300 developing-country institutions that will be a crucial source of local expertise in
designing and carrying out research activities under Project SEARCH. Drawing
on its vast experience, expertise, and relationships with leading
institutions in the research and HIV sectors, the Population Council will
continue to conduct and disseminate methodologically rigorous, timely, and
cost-effective research and evaluation tailored to the needs of specific
developing-country conditions, cultures, and institutions.
About the Population Council
The Population Council is an
international, nonprofit, nongovernmental research organization that seeks
to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future
generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and
sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts
biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build
research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the
Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York
headquarters supports a global network of regional and country offices.
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Media contacts
Melissa May, APR: +1 212 339 0525;
mmay@popcouncil.org
Diane M. Rubino: +1 212 339 0617;
drubino@popcouncil.org
See Also
Offsite Link
- "U.S. announces award for HIV/AIDS research and evaluation," USAID
press release (offsite
full text)
