Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP)
The AIDS 2018 Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP) is now closed. We would like to thank our dedicated mentors who generously gave of their time and shared their expertise, by providing feedback on 309 abstracts.
Background
The Abstract Mentor Programme (AMP) was introduced at the 15th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2004), with the objective to help young or less experienced researchers improve their abstracts before submitting them, in order to increase the chance of their work being presented at conferences.
The programme especially targets researchers from resource-limited settings, who lack access to opportunities for rigorous mentoring in research and writing and for whom online distance education is proven to cost-effectively build research capacity. Over the years, the AMP has proven to increase the motivation of early career researchers, as well as the number of abstract submissions received from resource-limited countries.
The AIDS 2016 AMP received 138 draft abstracts. From the draft abstracts that received online mentoring and were submitted for this conference, 30% were accepted into the Conference Programme.
The Abstract Mentor Programme is completely independent of the AIDS 2018 abstract review and selection process.
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