The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney is a leading global infectious disease research institute, recognised for its excellence in HIV research. We have a long-standing commitment to strengthening HIV research capacity in the Asia-Pacific region. The CHART Program is an initiative proposed by the late Professor David Cooper, inaugural director of the Kirby Institute.
What is the CHART Program?
The Cooper HIV/AIDS Research Training (CHART) Program is an education and training initiative that aims to expand the number of skilled and experienced HIV researchers in the Asia-Pacific region, at the same time as addressing local HIV priorities.
The CHART Program will operate over 12 months through a ‘learning by doing’ model that includes three intensive skill-based workshops (5-6 days each) conducted at the Kirby institute, UNSW Sydney, with individual research projects conducted in home countries.
Successful applicants will be provided with hands-on mentoring both during the workshops, and when they return to their country. As part of the program, participants will prepare reports for national policy makers, and research manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Participants will acquire the knowledge and skills that will prepare them to undertake research projects in their home countries. At the same time, they will generate new knowledge specific to their own countries that will ensure the best scientific evidence underpins regional HIV policy and practice.
Who can apply?
The CHART Program is aimed at those working in health care, policy or research with an interest in HIV, from one of the listed Asia-Pacific countries below. To be eligible, you must be:
- Directly involved in HIV prevention, care or management; or
- Working within the Ministry of Health at a national or provincial level with responsibility for HIV related policy development; or
- University academics working in public health or clinical research with involvement in HIV research.
Eligible Asia-Pacific countries: Cambodia; China; Fiji; Hong Kong SAR, China; Indonesia; Japan; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Taiwan; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and Vietnam.
Please note that Australian residents are not eligible to apply for this program.
CHART key dates for 2024/2025
Applications:
- Applications for the 2024 CHART Program are now closed.
2024 Workshop dates:
- Workshop # 1: Monday 5 August – Friday 9 August
- Workshop # 2: Monday 12 August – Friday 16 August
- Workshop # 3: TBC April/May 2025
How to apply
Applications for the 2024 CHART Program are now closed. Refer to the Application Guidelines and Program Overview for more information about the CHART Program.
CHART Program contact:
Cherie Bennett
Manager, Cooper HIV/AIDS Research Training Program
Email: cherie.bennett@kirby.unsw.edu.au
CHART Program 2023
The nine 2023 CHART Program participants come from Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji, Thailand and Papua New Guinea. Narukjaporn Thammajurak, a senior program officer from Thailand and participant, tells us why she applied for the CHART program.
CHART Program 2019
The nine 2019 CHART Program participants come from Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and South Korea. Mark Joseph, a primary care physician from the Philippines and participant, tells us what he enjoyed most from the workshops.
Acknowledgements: The CHART Program is supported by an unconditional education grant from ViiV Healthcare. The Kirby Institute is a global partner of the Structured Operational Research Training Initiative (SORT IT), coordinated by TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, hosted at the World Health Organization.