Colombia-US Fogarty Training Program
The Colombia-US Fogarty Training Program is dedicated to strengthening research capacity in Colombia by equipping scientists with the knowledge and tools to diagnose and study acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses (AUFIs), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Latin America. Many AUFIs remain misclassified under the “dengue” umbrella due to limited diagnostic resources. The program aims to bridge this gap through specialized training in diagnostics, research methodologies, and epidemic preparedness.
- Train Colombian scientists to identify AUFI etiologies
- Enhance diagnostic capacity and epidemic response
- Promote team science and collaborative research
- 17 fellows trained
- 27 peer-reviewed publications
- Advanced training for faculty, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers
- Strengthened collaborations across six Colombian institutions
Building on past success, the program is expanding to include respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, new diagnostic techniques, and bioinformatics. The next phase will:
- Train Colombian faculty through a train-the-trainer approach
- Support master’s students in biomedical sciences
- Provide PhD and postdoctoral training in the US
- Conduct workshops on bioethics, grant writing, and biosafety
By investing in the next generation of researchers, the program aims to improve public health interventions and strengthen epidemic preparedness in the region.
