AFRO-NETS> Research Training Grants 2003

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Research Training Grants 2003
-----------------------------

Source: <tdr-scientists@who.ch>

NOTE: Priority is given to applicants from the Least Developed Coun-
tries (LDC) as defined by the United Nations, and for applicants re-
questing local degree registration. The list of LDCs can be found at 
http://www.unctad.org/ldcs, or requested from TDR at the address 
listed below. Other applications will only be considered on an excep-
tional basis.

TDR is inviting applications for the award of Research Training 
Grants (RTG) 2003 from researchers who are nationals of, and employed 
in, the developing disease endemic countries (DECs) with lesser de-
veloped research capacities. RTGs are awarded, on a competitive ba-
sis, for studies leading to a postgraduate degree, or for acquiring 
specialized skills. Studies must be on one or more of the TDR target 
diseases - malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filari-
asis, onchocerciasis, African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, lep-
rosy, dengue or tuberculosis - in laboratory, clinical or applied 
field research disciplines relevant to TDR and/or national priori-
ties. See the TDR website at http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/workplans 
for TDR's priority research areas. The training may take place in the 
home country, in another developing country, or in a developed coun-
try. TDR reserves the right to select the academic institution, re-
search programme or TDR-funded research and devel opment (R&D) pro-
ject where it is fe lt the most suitable training can be obtained.

Other specific calls for research training applications will be an-
nounced during the coming year in the context of new integrated ini-
tiatives. TDR will develop multi-disciplinary, multi-partner inte-
grated research initiatives within TDR scientific priority areas op-
timizing and focusing the capacity building investment and the par-
ticipation of DECs. The initiatives will be guided by TDR/WHO's com-
parative advantage in specific areas, giving priorities to projects 
with greatest potential impact on disease cont rol and capacity 
building outcomes, including training. See the TDR website at 
http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/workplans/rcsworkplan.htm for the work-
plans of the Research Capability Strengthening (RCS) team and Multi-
lateral Initiative on Malaria /TDR (MIM) Task Force.

Capacity building in TDR

Research capability strengthening is a cross-cutting programmatic 
area of TDR, established to promote and fund research training and 
institution development to increase the participation of developing 
countries in the development and use of new, or better use of exist-
ing, tools for the prevention and control of communicable diseases. 
The long-term mission is to increase research self-reliance in en-
demic countries for identifying needs and developing solutions to 
public health problems caused by neglected in fectious diseases. TDR 
contributes to the attainment of these goals by strengthening re-
search institutions, generating new scientific knowledge in biomedi-
cal and social sciences and building a critical mass of human re-
sources to respond to research and public health needs. Partnerships, 
networking and promoting equal opportunities among DECs constitute 
the core of the RCS strategy and the basis for promoting a gender and 
geographically balanced generation of scientists.

Eligibility

Applications for training should be designed as an integral part of 
an institution development programme rather than an individual re-
quest. The successful applicants are expected to promote the develop-
ment of infrastructure and research environment, provide future 
training opportunities, exhibit scientific expertise in their chosen 
field, be conversant with information and communication systems, and 
to develop opportunities for collaboration with scientists and insti-
tutions in other countries where possible. Proposals will be reviewed 
on the basis of:

(a) research experience of applicant;
(b) previous education sufficient to justify requested graduate
    training;
(c) quality and clarity of written application;
(d) recommendation letters;
(e) relevance of training to home institute;
(f) relevance of training to home country/region;
(g) research project presented (for PhD);
(h) research environment in the home institution;
(i) previous TDR funding;
(j) national commitment to research.


Training priorities

TDR's first priority are applicants from the UN-defined Least Devel-
oped Countries (LDCs) [website], and second, low income countries as 
defined by the World Bank [webpage]. To achieve gender balance, ap-
plications are especially encouraged from women. Currently, over 35% 
of successful applications are from women, and TDR would like to in-
crease this percentage. In general, applications from researchers re-
questing support for training in their own country or region are 
given priority; over the past decade, th percentage of applicants 
funded for local or regional training has increased from 25% to 65%. 
Applicants requesting local/regional PhD training may also include a 
short attachment abroad (+/- 6 months) to acquire skills related to 
their thesis research not available within their own country. Appli-
cations are welcomed from individuals working and involved in minis-
tries of health with responsibility for planning, executing and/or 
evaluating disease control programmes related to TDR t arget dis-
eases. Finally, preference is given to applicants under the age of 35 
years as our experience has shown that younger scientists follow a 
more productive research career path after their training.

How to apply

Please read and carefully follow the instructions for completing the 
application, and do not exceed the page limits.

What an application should include

Researchers who wish to apply for an RTG should send the following 
information, type-written, to the address given below (no application 
forms are required).

1. Full name in capital letters with the family name underlined.

2. Date of birth and nationality (please include photocopy of infor-
   mation page of passport or official identity document).

3. One recent passport sized photograph.

4. Name, phone number, fax number and email address (website if ap-
   plicable) of institution where the applicant is employed.

5. Educational qualifications, including place and date of study, and
   - if possible - grade obtained (transcripts and/or photocopies of
   qualifications are not required but may be requested at a later
   date).

6. A description (in not more than 12 lines) of the applicant's cur-
   rent post and of the post held immediately preceding the current
   post.

7. A description (not exceeding 10 lines) of the applicant's current
   research interests.

8. A list of the applicant's publications (with references), and
   other abstracts or presentations.

9. A letter of recommendation from two senior scientists/professors
   that includes their institutional affiliation, address, telephone
   numbers, fax numbers and email addresses. (Please include these
   with the application).

10. If the applicant is or has recently been involved with a TDR-
    funded project, provide the title of the project and the name of
    the principal investigator.

11. Type of training requested e.g. for studies leading to PhD or
    MSc, or for short-term specialized training; local (within the
    home country), regional (within the region), or abroad in a de-
    veloped country; and discipline and disease of study.

12. For applications leading to a PhD, an outline (3-4 pages) of the
    proposed research to be carried out during the training, include-
    ing rationale, objectives and methodology, citing a minimum of 5
    recent references.

13. The name(s) and address(es) of institution(s), in order of pref-
    erence, where the applicant would like to study, with copies of
    correspondence enclosed if contact has already been made with
    these institutions (preference is given for local (home country)
    training).

14. Applicants already registered for a doctoral degree in their own
    countries and who would like to seek support for their thesis re-
    search should provide evidence of registration, a full project
    proposal (with ethical clearance if necessary), and an itemized
    budget not exceeding US$10,000 total, endorsed by their supervi-
    sor. The project proposal will be reviewed on scientific merit
    and relevance by the Research Strengthening Group.

15. An endorsement from the Director of the applicant's home institu-
    tion testifying to the ability of the applicant to undertake suc
    cessfully the proposed studies and certifying that the applicant,
    if awarded TDR support for research training away from the home
    institute, will be granted a leave of absence and, on completing
    the training, will be assured of a post for at least three years.
    The Director should also indicate how the proposed training will
    strengthen the research capabilities of the institution and/or
    how it will assist in the planning and evaluation of a particular
    disease control programme (all applicants must have fixed employ-
    ment).

Applicants from countries requiring national endorsement should sub-
mit their applications through proper government channels. A copy of 
all applications should be sent to the WHO Representative's Office in 
their home country for information purposes.

All applications must be received at the following address by 1 No-
vember 2002

Steven Wayling
Manager Research Training Grants (RTG)
UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in 
Tropical Diseases (TDR)
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-791-3909
Fax: +41-22-791-4854
mailto:RCSTraining@who.int

Applications will be reviewed by a sub-Committee of the Research 
Strengthening Group (RSG) in February 2003, and the results communi-
cated in April 2003.

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