School of Pharmacy tackles AIDS on global scale

Two schools of pharmacy a world apart are coming together to tackle the current global HIV/AIDS crisis.

UB researchers unveiled novel plans for UB's International Center for HIV/AIDS Pharmacotherapy Research and Training (ICHAPRT) on Wednesday in the Natural Sciences Complex explaining exactly how the UB School of Pharmacy is joining forces with the University of Zimbabwe's School of Pharmacy.

Leaders from the ICHAPRT including the program's director Chiedza Maponga, spoke to an audience of primarily pharmacy students about the initial upstart, development and current initiatives of the program.

"About 96 percent of new infections occur in low to mid-income countries. I came back to UB to be a part of the team working to help this, to act as an international expert," Maponga said about his findings at the University of Zimbabwe.

ICHAPRT, established in 2002, aims to launch training and education initiatives, increase access to antiretroviral drugs and create long-term support for roots for research in developing countries.

The program acts as a gateway between UB and the international community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

UB is especially qualified to implement a program like this, according to Kelly Tooley, an ICHAPRT representative.

During the presentation, she described how the program gives the university access to a laboratory that meets clinical standards amongst other technical advantages.

After a period of small advances, the program began to pick up in 2005 as researchers came together with others around the globe.

"Nothing happens without the support of the community. It's extremely important to come together with efforts like this," Tooley said. "We learn as much from them as they learn from us."

ICHAPRT has expanded and is now working with Naresuan University in Thailand and the Peking Union Medical College in China.

In the presentation, organizers also introduced the "Twinning Experience," a large part of the initiative. The program pairs UB students with students from the University of Zimbabwe to create a bridge between the two places.

Megne Tantse and Nida Siddiqui, both Ph.D. candidates in Buffalo and in Zimbabwe respectively, described their personal experiences with the twinning experience.

"The people you're involved with are half a world apart, which puts a big emphasis on technology when it comes to communication," Siddiqui said. "You learn that our way isn't the only way."

Despite the recent growth of the program ICHAPRT's efforts have gone mostly unseen.

"We are doing this great level of work and no one really knows," Tooley said.

The program is still steadfast in its main message and goal, despite the lack of attention it has received.

"ICHAPRT makes it possible for UB students to not just impact HIV research, but to change lives globally," Maponga said. "We are making a difference."