Project SIDA was a scientific organization to study AIDS in Africa.
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History
Headquartered in Kinshasa, Zaire, Project SIDA was designed as a collaboration between foreign scientists with experience studying epidemics and local scientists familiar with the local culture and customs. Initiated in 1984, with funding from the U.S. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and the direction of Jonathan Mann, Project SIDA was based at Mama Yemo hospital in Kinshasa.
Project SIDA was terminated in 1991 due to civil war in Zaire.
Scientific outcomes
Project SIDA operated successfully and generated over a thousand scientific abstracts. In particular, Project SIDA scientists were among the first to document heterosexual transmission of AIDS and the existence of AIDS outside of developed countries. Project SIDA also developed and supported local scientists and scientific infrastructure, in contrast to many scientists from the developed world who collected samples in Africa but did not attempt to train local staff. In addition to Mann, prominent scientists involved with Project SIDA include Joseph McCormick and Peter Piot,