In late March, faculty from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University’s STAR Program and
its New York State International Training and Research Program (NYS-ITRP), Brown
University’s NEZLAMNI: Building Capacity in HIV/TB and Mental Health, and Loyola
University Chicago’s (LUC) International Bioethics Research Training Program traveled
together to Lviv, Ukraine to meet with their Fogarty-funded trainees for a three-day workshop on
HIV and mental health research, epidemiology, and bioethics. Hosted on the campus of
Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), the meeting brought together trainees, faculty, and
collaborators across Fogarty-supported programs, reinforcing a shared commitment to building
rigorous, ethical, and locally grounded research capacity.
The workshop was jointly coordinated by the three Fogarty-funded programs each contributing
complementary strengths in HIV research, implementation science, and bioethics training. LUC
was represented by Emily E. Anderson, PhD, MPH, and Brown, by Adam Levine, MD, MPH,
Director of Brown University Center for Global Health Equity and Timothy Flanigan, MD,
SUNY Downstate was represented by Jack DeHovitz, MD, MPH, MHCDS, FACP, Director of
the STAR Program and Distinguished Service Professor, and David Odegaard, MPH, Director of
Training and Education for the STAR, who helped lead the program’s training and mentorship
activities.
On Day 1 of the workshop, each program met individually – the SUNY Downstate and Brown
programs to orient their new trainees, and the bioethics program to highlight the impacts of their
alumni and advanced trainees. Designed for early-stage investigators—including trainees from
Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and HIV-serving community-based organizations—the workshop
for HIV epidemiology trainees focused on building foundational skills in implementation science
and research writing and scientific manuscript preparation. NYS-ITRP faculty Danielle Ompad
PhD presented on implementation science basics, conducting literature reviews and components
of scientific papers. Konstyantyn Dumchev MD, MPH provided Ukrainian-focused examples of
implementation science and how to develop a research hypothesis. Many participants are at the
earliest stages of their research careers, with limited prior experience in manuscript writing or
study design. The sessions aimed not only to provide technical knowledge, but also to inspire
trainees to develop their own research proposals and collaborations. Four NYS-ITRP trainees
presented research proposal ideas for potential grant funding.
Participants from all three programs spent two days together, including a full day research
symposium with presentations highlighting work of program faculty and trainees as well as UCU
faculty. Israel Liberzon, MD of Texas A&M University who leads a Fogarty program focused on
psychologic aspects of trauma care in Ukraine also presented. NYS-ITRP faculty Konstyantyn
Dumchev MD MPH provided an overview of HIV epidemiology and HIV care cascade in
Ukraine. Faculty members Alyona Mazhnaya PhD and Tetiana Vasylyeva PhD presented on the
various impacts of the war and resulting population displacement on HIV and substance use
treatment and services. At the core of the workshop was a full-day training on the Responsible
Conduct of Research (RCR), led by alumni and advanced bioethics trainees from the Fogarty-
funded and attended by approximately 75 participants from multiple D43 programs and UCU
faculty members. Structured around the lifecycle of a research study—from developing a
research question to publication and peer review—the interactive curriculum emphasized ethical
principles at every stage. Topics included bias and source verification, IRB review and
participant protections, informed consent, data integrity, and authorship practices, with small-
group case discussions reinforcing real-world application and ethical decision-making.
Throughout the three days, participants presented emerging ideas, received mentorship, and
engaged in dialogue on pressing public health challenges in Ukraine. In the context of the
ongoing war, discussions highlighted critical areas of inquiry, including the impact of conflict on
HIV transmission and care continuity, disruptions to treatment systems, and the mental health
needs of both civilians and members of the Ukrainian armed forces. These conversations
underscored the importance of research that is responsive to rapidly evolving conditions and
grounded in the lived realities of affected populations.
The visit also included a tour of UCU’s new clinical facilities, offering insight into how care
delivery and training are integrated in the local context. Dedicated sessions with trainees in
epidemiology and bioethics created space for peer exchange, reflection, and the strengthening of
professional networks, an essential component of the Fogarty program’s long-term impact.
Across sessions, a consistent theme emerged: ethical research is not simply a set of rules, but a
practice grounded in integrity, mentorship, and community. By combining scientific training
with case-based learning and collaborative exchange, the Lviv workshop exemplified Fogarty’s
mission in funding both research and bioethics training—to equip researchers not only to
generate evidence, but to do so responsibly.
As these Fogarty-funded training programs in Ukraine continue to face profound challenges due
to the ongoing war, the Lviv workshop stands as a powerful example of sustained global
partnership—advancing science, strengthening capacity, and supporting the next generation of
researchers.
