Consultant – Global HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) Surveillance Programme, WHO HIV Resistance Network Laboratories at World Health Organization

Purpose of consultancy

To contribute to the work of the Treatment and Care unit (TAC) to provide expert advice on the global HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) surveillance programme, including advice to countries on the implementation of HIVDR survey contribute to the development of planned short report on HIVDR Report 2023 and contribute to the work of the WHO HIV Resistance Network laboratories.

Deliverables: 

Task 1: Contribute to annual development and analysis of dry panels for ResNet laboratories.

• Deliverable 1.1: With input and in collaboration with WHO HIVResNet, compile dry panel and send to all ResNet labs, analyse results and prepare reports to be sent to labs. Compile dry panel sequence set and deliver relevant reports.
  Timeline: Months 3, 6, 9 and 11

Task 2: In collaboration with Virology Quality Assurance (VQA) Program (plasma panel proficiency panel), US-CDC or other identified proficiency panel providers for plasma or dried blood spots (DBS), contribute to annual external quality assurance program including supporting laboratory participation and review results.

• Deliverable 2.1: Send annual proficiency panel for plasma to all ResNet labs, analyse results and prepare reports to be sent to labs.
• Timeline: Months 6 and 11 
• Deliverable 2.2: Send annual proficiency panel for DBS to the ResNet labs, analyse results and prepare reports to be sent to labs.
• Timeline: Months 6 and 11 
• Deliverable 2.3: Provide technical input to automated tool which will be developed to automate proficiency panel analysis. Provide technical input as a short report to WHO.
• Timeline: Months 3, 4 and 5
• Deliverable 2.4: In collaboration with and with the support of hepatitis C experts, develop technical specifications for future hepatitis C dry panel and wet panel to be operationalized in future. Provide specifications in short report to WHO.

Timeline: Month 10

Task 3: Review new ResNet lab applications including assessments for up to 10 laboratories.

• Deliverable 3.1: Review up to 10 applications and assess 10 laboratories for possible designation following established WHO laboratory operational framework for HIVDR surveillance laboratories.
  Timeline: monthly 

Task 4: Monitor existing laboratory performance through twice yearly online meetings, and ad hoc as needed, with each lab and management of WHO HIVDR Teams channel specific to the lab network providing dissemination of key laboratory updates.

• Deliverable 4.1: Provide agendas, presentations, and notes on action points of calls with laboratories to which technical assistance.
• Timeline: Months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 11
• Deliverable 4.2: Provide content to WHOHIVDR Teams Channel, which provides dissemination of key laboratory-related updates.

Timeline: Months 2 - 11  

Task 5: Review integrase sequencing assay validations/validation reports of new assays.

• Deliverable 5.1: Review up to 10 assay validations and share recommendations/reports with the HIVResNet laboratories.
  Timeline: Months 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10

Task 6: Develop background documents, presentations and participate in HIVResNet (virtual or in person) meetings.

• Deliverable 6.1: Provide technical input to WHO with development of meeting planning content, including background and planning documents related to laboratories, for up to 2 ResNet Steering Group meetings and one ResNet meeting, which may be integrated within other WHO HHS department meetings (e.g., CADO/PADO, etc).
• Timeline: Months 1 and 9
• Deliverable 6.2: Provide input and advice on the development of relevant content for laboratory-related; HIVDR/HCV or other drug resistance presentations.

Timeline: Months 3 and 10

Task 7: Review of the GAM data on a) implementations of HIVDR surveillance; b) develop a national action plan on HIVDR; c) quality-of-care indicators relevant for HIVDR and work with website consultant to update the HIVDR web page regarding data.

• Deliverable 7.1: Review GAM HIVDR and conduct quality of care data; provide feedback to countries in order to inform the implementation of the HIVD dashboard. 
• Timeline: Month 3 
• Deliverable 7.2: Develop dashboard of the GAM quality of care indicators for Tier 1 and 2 countries using traffic light coding; prepare presentation to ResNet WG1 (quality of care group) and EWI report for inclusion in the broader 2021 HIVDR report. 

Timeline: Month 6  

Task 8: Provide technical expertise to the HIVDR team in the analysis of country-level HIVDR sequences for the brief HIVDR updated report in 2023.

• Deliverable 8.1: Prepare up to 20 country sets of quality assured survey sequences.
• Timeline: Month 11
• Deliverable 8.2: Prepare and analyze data on genotypes for 2023 HIVDR report.

Timeline: Month 5 

Task 9: Provide technical expert advice and contribute to the writing to ensure harmonization with WHO Hepatitis B treatment guidelines and the public health context.

• Deliverable 9.1: Provide revisions to externally commissioned systematic review and meta-analysis to ensure harmonization and messaging.
  Timeline: Month 8

Task 10: Contribute to the update of HIVDR training materials and initiate enlargement of the scope of WHO HIVResNet and or other laboratory networks to perform HIV sequencing using next generation sequencing.  

• Deliverable 10.1: Update final laboratory training package (PPT slides as PDFs) published as part of the tool kit for WHO HIVResNet laboratories.
• Timeline: Month 9 
• Deliverable 10.2: Develop a document defining minimum criteria for a NGS bioinformatics pipeline.

Timeline: Month 11

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in science, public health, epidemiology, infectious disease control, or equivalent discipline.

Experience

Essential:

• Over five years’ experience, in a national and international context, in strategic information and HIV drug resistance related to international public health.

Desirable: 

• International experience in HIVDR surveillance and technical support to countries and regions.

Skills

• Ability to perform statistical analysis using STATA or other quality statistical program.
• Ability to analyse HIV sequence data. 
• Ability to analyse hepatitis B and C sequence data.
• Ability to perform sequence quality assurance.
• Good communication and presentation skills.

Closing Date: Feb 2, 2023