The International Activities Core is designed to assist UCLA faculty to extend their activities to new populations and problems presented by HIV infection in other countries and to establish suitable collaborative arrangements. The Core may also assist leadership individuals and institutions in developing countries to access UCLA resources. UCLA has broad experience and extensive resources for research and applications in all aspects of HIV/AIDS. These can be of use in countries encountering AIDS more recently. The major scientific questions to be addressed in this core relate to:

1. immunologic, virologic and disease prevention aspects of HIV vaccines
2. major and culturally-specific components of psychosocially-based HIV prevention programs
3. improved, widely-applicable and effective interventions to prevent maternal-fetal HIV transmission
4. mechanism underlying the deleterious effects of co-infections, especially in tropical countries
5. evaluation of consequences and mechanisms of action of novel therapies for HIV infection

The International Activities Core will focus on the development of collaborative relationships with established investigators, academic institutions, ministries of health, and international health agencies. The Core will facilitate:

1. new research efforts developed jointly by UCLA faculty together with AIDS leadership in cooperating countries. Pilot funding will be sought to implement such projects;
2. in-country (outside of USA) workshops and training;
3. short- (2 to 3 months) and long-term (1 to 3 years) training programs so that junior faculty level individuals and postdoctoral fellows from developing countries can draw upon the extensive knowledge and skills of the faculty at UCLA;
4. arranging professional interactions for visiting scientific groups and individuals;
5. access to AIDS Institute and other UCLA research resources;
6. developing projects in concert with other CFAR sites with international commitments.