Mentoring patient-oriented research in the evaluation of novel diagnostics for people with advanced HIV disease

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota $220,485 on June 8, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to support mentored patient-oriented research in diagnostic evaluation for people with advanced HIV disease.

Dr. Rajasingham, a mid-career physician-scientist, will receive protected time to expand mentorship of trainees in evaluating novel diagnostic tests among people with advanced HIV disease, acquire training in mentoring methods and implementation science, and evaluate diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of novel tests in outpatient settings. She has mentored 23 trainees from medical students to junior faculty across the University of Minnesota and the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda and serves as a mentor for D43, T32, and Fogarty fellows.

The research leverages a 17-year partnership infrastructure in Uganda and existing NIH-funded awards, including the Encore clinical trial (R01AI162181), which provides over 1,900 biospecimens and associated clinical and epidemiological data. The work is facilitated by longstanding collaborations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and Pan American Health Organization.

Place of performance is Minneapolis, Minnesota. The period of performance runs through May 31, 2031. The assistance type is a Project Grant (K24 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award).

Abstract

DR. Rajasingham, the PI, is a mid-career, NIH-funded physician-scientist with expertise in clinical infectious diseases, clinical trials, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis. This K24 grant will provide DR. Rajasingham with protected time to 1) expand mentorship of trainees in the evaluation of new diagnostic tests and their clinical impact among people with advanced HIV disease, 2) acquire additional training in mentoring methods, leadership, and implementation science -a natural extension of her existing portfolio, and 3) evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of several novel diagnostic tests among outpatients with advanced HIV disease. She has mentored 23 trainees from medical students to junior faculty, both at the university of minnesota and infectious diseases institute in uganda. She serves as a mentor for D43, T32, and fogarty fellows. She will leverage the infrastructure of a 17-year partnership in uganda and NIH-funded awards (R01AI162181, U01AI174978) to support future mentees. DR. Rajasingham's research and mentoring program is facilitated by longstanding collaborations with colleagues at the centers for disease control and prevention, world health organization, and the pan american health organization. Thus, her research findings are frequently presented directly to stakeholders for translation of research into HIV policy. The ongoing, NIH-funded encore clinical trial (R01AI162181) will serve as the parent study, with over 1900 readily available biospecimens, clinical, and epidemiological data to evaluate novel diagnostics and their clinical impact. Specific aims are to: 1) determine the diagnostic accuracy of novel near-bedside tests in people with advanced HIV disease, 2) determine 24-week survival and retention-in-care outcomes among people with advanced HIV disease with previously unrecognized fungal infection, and 3) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of prospective implementation of enhanced fungal and TB screening among outpatients with advanced HIV disease. For her career development, DR. Rajasingham will obtain formal training in mentorship, leadership methods, and implementation science to further understand how best to evaluate the implementation of novel diagnostics in resource-limited settings. Impact: this K24 grant will provide DR. Rajasingham with protected time to expand mentorship of trainees in patient-oriented research, specifically in the area of evaluation of diagnostic accuracy, clinical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of novel point-of-care diagnostics in people with advanced HIV disease. The proposed diagnostic strategy could significantly impact clinical care and public policy by: a) informing clinical decisions about how best to screen persons with advanced HIV disease, b) informing policy makers on cost-effective strategies for reducing aids-related opportunistic infections, and c) informing national and international HIV guidelines on optimal screening strategies for people with advanced HIV disease.