Abstract Mentor Programme
The Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP) is a free mentoring initiative offered by the International AIDS Society to help young or less experienced researchers improve their written abstract skills and increase the chances of presenting their research. The AMP is completely independent of the IAS 2019 abstract review and selection process.
The programme primarily offers support to researchers from resource-limited settings with the aim to strengthen abstracts before submitting to IAS 2019 in order to increase the chance of being accepted into the conference programme. This year, 25% of abstracts submitted for review to the AMP were accepted to be presented at IAS 2019 in the Poster Exhibition and as part of Poster Discussion session.
We would like to thank the 51 mentors who generously shared their experience and knowledge with 118 authors: Abiola Clementina Ajibola (Nigeria), Ahmed Cordie Abdelhamid (Egypt), Akif Khawaja (United Kingdom), Allison Carter (Australia), Anthony Ajayi (South Africa), Ashok Pandey (Nepal), Barbara Burmen (Kenya), Behnaz Heydarchi (Australia), Betania Allen-Leigh (Mexico), Chinazo Ujuju (Nigeria), Cyprien Kengne-Nde (Cameroon), Dimitrios Paraskevis (Greece), Elizabeth King (United States), Ethan Morgan (United States), Evangelia-Georgia Kostaki (Greece), Gabriela Khoury (Australia), Grace Umutesi (Rwanda), Guillermo Teran-Angel (Venezuela), Guinevere Q. Lee (United States), James Freeman (Australia), Jane Mutanga (Zambia), Jimson Mgaya (United Republic of Tanzania), Joseph Mogunde Obunga (Kenya), Kedar Mehta (India), Keshab Deuba (Nepal), Khine Wut Yee Kyaw (Myanmar), Liza Coyer (The Netherlands), Makobu Kimani (Kenya), Marissa Vicari (France), Maureen Akolo (Kenya), Myo Minn Oo (Thailand), Neema Makyao (United Republic of Tanzania), Nicollate Okoko (Kenya), Nittaya Phanuphak (Thailand), Olivier Lucar (United States), Olufemi Oke (Nigeria), Parthasarathy Mugundu Ramien (India), Paul Otieno Yonga (Kenya), Rayner Kay Jin Tan (Singapore), Richard Lessells (South Africa), Rumana Saifi (Singapore), Saheed Usman (Nigeria), Sébastien Morin (Switzerland), Sophie Pascoe (South Africa), Subash C. Sonkar (India), Suman Ganguly (India), Tafireyi Marukutira (Australia), Thibaut Davy-Mendez (United States), Tsz Ho Kwan (Hong Kong), Victor Adepoju (Nigeria), Vincent Sénécal (Canada).
Participants’ testimonies
“The AMP was a wonderful opportunity to obtain critical input from professionals on my abstract. The feedback ensures that the abstracts are scientifically sound, thus giving mentored abstracts a higher chance of being accepted for presentation. This programme is invaluable for resource-limited settings such as those in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Dr Borna Nyaoke-Anoke
Clinical Trial Manager, KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, University of Nairobi, Kenya
“The AMP gives a good opportunity for early-career researchers, especially those from non-English speaking backgrounds, to work with experienced scientists and enhance their scientific presentation capabilities. The AMP has improved the quality of my abstract and reinforced my scientific research.”
Bin Su
Associate Professor/Researcher, Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing You’an Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
Mentors’ testimonies
“Having been both a research mentor and mentee, I have found mentoring relationships to be have excellent examples of mutually beneficial professional relationships. The mentoring program provides the privileged insight into similar research and programs worldwide. Offering technical and editorial suggestions to improve the quality of abstracts also allows me to sharpen my research and programmatic skills. Thanks to the AMP, distance is no longer an obstacle to scientific growth!”
Dr Barbara Burmen
HIV Implementation Science Lead and Senior Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute Center for Global Health Research
“As an early-stage investigator, I look for every opportunity to hone my own research analytical skills while also assisting others. The AMP provides an excellent avenue for me do both while getting to appreciate the quality of abstracts that are submitted from research around the globe. Aspiring investigators often just need an added level of support to take their ideas and make them shine. The programme helps us uncover research diamonds in the rough."
Dr Anna Joy Rogers
Research Specialist, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA