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International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER) in Uganda The International Centers for Excellence in Research (ICER) program was launched in 2002 to develop and sustain research programs in low-income countries through partnerships between NIH intramural scientists and local scientists. The Rakai ICER program is focused on clinical research in infectious diseases. The Division of Intramural Research (DIR), through long-term collaborations with colleagues in Uganda, has developed a core research program supporting the expansion of research capabilities including improvement of laboratory and clinical infrastructure and enhancement of information technology capability. The International Center for Excellence in Research (ICER) Program in Uganda began in 2002. The primary goal of the program was to develop a sustained research program of excellence in the areas of high infectious disease burden, through international partnerships. The office is composed of Dr. Steven Reynolds, M.D., M.P.H., Scientific Director, and four Ugandan Nationals (two Administrators and two Drivers). The U.S. Pl of the Ugandan ICER is Dr. Tom Quinn and the Ugandan Pls are Drs. Nelson Sewankambo and David Serwadda. In 2003 a 4000 square foot laboratory facility was renovated as part of the NIAID ICER collaboration with Rakai Health Sciences Program (RHSP) in Kalisizo, The laboratory opened in late 2004 and currently supports both basic bench and clinical research and provides clinical laboratory support for the RHSP antiretroviral treatment program. This is a state-of-the art full service laboratory equipped with hematology (Coulter ACT-5 Diff), chemistry (Roche Cobas), Flow cytometry (Facscalibur), microbiology and molecular diagnostics (HIV viral load, Hepatitis B viral load, GUD diagnostics). The laboratory participates in and has been fully successful in the external quality assurance programs of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Virology Quality Assurance (VQA) programs. The Rakai Health Sciences Program Laboratory supports several intramural and extramural NIAID research protocols as well research funded by the Gates Foundation and a large PEPFAR funded HIV treatment program providing services to 8000 HIV infected individuals in Rakai district. The facility also provides training and technology transfer. ICER also enhanced RHSP data facilities through provision of computer networks and satellite broad band internet access, videoconferencing and datafax. LABORATORY CAPACITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE Basic Laboratory RHSP is a state of the art biohazard II level laboratory. The facility includes four 6' laminar flow biosaftey cabinets, a fume hood and a water purification system. Samples collected from the field or obtained from the clinic are processed and sorted in the accession lab. Biologic samples are then sent to the microbiology lab for malaria or