Advancing Global HIV Research: Annual Fogarty Program Visit to Kazakhstan

 From September 9-12, 2025, faculty from SUNY Downstate’s STAR Program and its New York State International Training and Research Program (NYS-ITRP) visited Almaty, Kazakhstan for the annual site visit of the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program. The delegation included Jack DeHovitz, MD, MPH, MHCDS, FACP, Director of the STAR Program and Distinguished Service Professor; Deborah Gustafson, PhD, MS, Professor in the Department of Neurology and Section for NeuroEpidemiology; and David Odegaard, MPH, Director of Training and Education for the STAR Program and Clinical Instructor. 

Led by the STAR Program, NYS-ITRP is a cornerstone of SUNY Downstate’s global HIV research and training portfolio, advancing capacity building, implementation science, and mentorship across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The visit marked another milestone in the nearly decade-long collaboration between NYS-ITRP and the Kazakh National Medical University (KNMU). 

Building Research Capacity in Kazakhstan 

Since 2016, the NIH Fogarty-funded NYS-ITRP has collaborated with KNMU’s School of Public Health to provide advanced HIV research training to faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and emerging investigators. The initiative builds on a 30-year legacy of HIV training programs led by Dr. DeHovitz and colleagues at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, the University at Albany School of Public Health, and the New York State Department of Health — institutions that have provided local and global leadership in responding to the HIV epidemic since the early 1990s. 

KNMU — known until recently as the Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University — is Kazakhstan’s oldest and most prestigious medical university, founded in 1930. It maintains academic affiliations with more than 120 hospitals and research institutions throughout the country, making KNMU an ideal partner for developing Kazakhstan’s HIV research infrastructure. 

The Fogarty Program: A Regional Legacy 

The NYS-ITRP was first funded in 1994 by the Fogarty International Center as an AIDS International Training and Research Program, initially focused on Central Europe. Within a decade, the program expanded to Eastern Europe and later to the countries of the former Soviet Union. Since 2010, it has included Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, and Kazakhstan as primary partners, with the Kazakh collaboration launching formally in 2016. 

Over three decades, NYS-ITRP has trained over 120 long-term fellows (92% of whom returned to their home countries), and its alumni have authored nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed publications and secured over 60 extramural grants, many as principal investigators. Alumni now hold leading positions in universities, research institutes, and national health agencies across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, illustrating the enduring impact of the program’s mentorship model. 

HIV in Kazakhstan and Central Asia 

Kazakhstan, which gained independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, has a population of more than 18 million and a complex HIV landscape shaped by its geography and history. Almaty — the country’s largest city and the site of the historic 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care — lies along the ancient Silk Road, a major drug trafficking corridor from Afghanistan. Injection drug use and migration along these routes have fueled the regional HIV epidemic. 

While global HIV incidence continues to decline, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region remains one of the few where infections are rising — increasing by about 10% annually. The Fogarty program’s focus on implementation science and capacity building directly addresses these challenges, helping Kazakhstan and its regional neighbors strengthen surveillance, prevention, and care systems. 

Purpose and Structure of the 2025 Visit 

The annual visit to Almaty served several objectives: 

● To review the progress of current and recent trainees on research projects and academic milestones; 

● To identify and mentor new trainees and early-career investigators; 

● To meet with KNMU academic leadership and explore opportunities for continued collaboration under current and future Fogarty funding cycles; and 

● To provide on-site scientific training and mentorship through workshops and presentations. 

Highlights from the Week:

Tuesday, September 9 

The week began with a meeting at KNMU between the U.S. delegation and Dr. Ildar Fakhradiyev, Vice-Rector for Research, and members of KNMU’s leadership. Discussions focused on strategic directions for the Fogarty grant, potential next steps for funding renewal, and options for continued support. 

Wednesday, September 10 

An all-day scientific workshop brought together Kazakhstani faculty, alumni, and current trainees. Participants presented their ongoing research and draft manuscripts, receiving in-depth feedback from U.S. and local mentors. The interactive format — a hallmark of NYS-ITRP training — emphasized peer learning, manuscript development, and strategies for publication in international journals. Photos from the workshop captured the vibrant exchange of ideas and the growing sophistication of Kazakhstan’s research community. 

Friday, September 12 

Friday morning the US and Kazakhstani faculty presented to KNMU medical students on the importance of integrating research training into medical school; they presented a recently 

published journal article on HIV and non-communicable diseases from a junior KNMU faculty member. 

Looking Forward 

As the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program enters its next phase, NYS-ITRP and KNMU continue to model a sustainable, equitable approach to global health collaboration — one that prioritizes local leadership, long-term mentorship, and scientific exchange. Through this enduring partnership, Kazakhstan’s public health research capacity continues to grow, contributing not only to national HIV control efforts, but also to the broader global effort to end the epidemic.