![\"Classroom](\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/fammed\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/454\/2020\/02\/IMG_1907-1024x768.jpeg\")
Sylvia Becker-Dreps, MD, MPH, and Steven Meshnick, MD, PhD, are co-directors of the research program from UNC and Samuel Vilchez, PhD is the director from UNAN. Becker-Dreps says one of the greatest takeaways from the program has been recognizing how needed it is. In recognition of this high need, the initiative is named D43 NEED, or Nicaragua Emerging & Endemic Disease Program.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible how grateful our Nicaraguan students Becker-Dreps emphasizes the program is far from a one-way street. Along with trainees who travel to UNAN for valuable learning, faculty from UNC benefit greatly from the exchange of research, especially in analyzing diseases present in the region (such as Zika) that could one day pose a threat in the U.S. \u201cIt\u2019s really been a win-win,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Aravinda de Silva, PhD, MPH, who leads the program\u2019s Advanced Immunology module, echoes that sentiment. \u201cI am thrilled to be a part of the D43 project to strengthen PhD-level training in infectious disease research in Nicaragua,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cThe module I directed was an amazing experience for me. At short notice, several UNC and UNAN faculty members agreed to develop new content and teach.\u201d De Silva says he looks forward to advising students and hosting them in his lab here at UNC.<\/p>\n The partnership has also sparked an interest in growing the pipeline of scientists in the region. Through events like an annual research symposium, advertised throughout Central America, the universities have brought together scientists from many different countries. De Silva commends the program for uniting scientists in the spirit of shared research and cooperation. \u201cThe D43 project is an example of how international partnerships can be used to democratize science so that all countries benefit from access to information and technology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cross-collaboration between the two universities will only continue to grow with the addition of the PhD program. Classes will be taught by paired UNC and UNAN faculty, with research dissertation committees consisting of members from each school as well.<\/p>\n The addition of the PhD program is an exciting step for the UNC-UNAN partnership and has already paved the way for UNAN to add other PhD Programs in Global Health and Occupational Health. Faculty and researchers from both institutions are looking forward to what further progress can be made in training new scientists and facilitating vital research on various diseases within the region.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not only going there and doing research,\u201d said Becker-Dreps. \u201cIt\u2019s an exchange of knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n UNC faculty, trainees and staff recently participating in the PhD program are Sylvia Becker-Dreps, MD, MPH, Nadja Vielot, PhD, Steven Meshnick, MD, PhD, Aravinda de Silva, PhD, Ralph Baric, PhD, Helen Lazear, PhD, Nilu Goonatileke, PhD, Laura White, PhD, Maria Abad Fernandez, PhD, Michael Emch, PhD, Tania Desrosiers, PhD, Andrea Azcarate-Peril, PhD, Tania Caravella, MPH, Kathryn Salisbury, MPH, Natalie Bowman, MD, MPH, Annie Green Howard, PhD, Victor Silva Ritter, PhD candidate and Kate Brandt, PhD candidate.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UNC has expanded its partnership with the Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de Nicaragua-Le\u00f3n (UNAN) to include the development of a PhD program housed at UNAN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102482,"featured_media":12551,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","odd"],"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u00a0<\/del>\u00a0are to have this opportunity, to have world-class scientists from UNC be their teachers,\u201d Becker-Dreps said. \u201cPeople [from UNC] are stepping up because they realize how necessary and meaningful it is.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Students](\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/fammed\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/454\/2020\/02\/IMG_1837-1024x768.jpeg\")