AFRO-NETS> Call for Applications for the Award of Research Training Grants - 2004

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

Call for Applications for the Award of Research Training Grants - 2004
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Source: tdr-scientists@who.ch

NOTE:

Priority is given to applicants from the Least Developed Countries 
(LDC) as defined by the United Nations, and for applicants requesting 
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. Applications from non-LDC countries will be considered 
only on an exceptional basis. All applicants must have permanent em-
ployment pre- and post-training.

The UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training 
in Tropical Diseases (TDR) invites applications for the award of Re-
search Training Grants (RTG) from individuals who are nationals of, 
and employed in, least developed disease endemic countries (LDC) and 
developing disease endemic countries (DEC) with lesser developed re-
search capacities. RTGs are awarded, on a competitive basis, for 
studies leading to a postgraduate degree, or for acquiring special-
ized skills. Studies must be on one or more of the TDR target dis-
eases - malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis 
and onchocerciasis, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, lep-
rosy, dengue and tuberculosis, in laboratory, clinical or applied 
field research disciplines relevant to TDR and/or national priori-
ties. 
See the TDR web site 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 & Development (R&D) project 
where it is felt the most suitable training can be obtained.

See the TDR web site at for the work plans of the Research Capability 
Strengthening (RCS), Multilateral Initiative on Malaria /TDR (MIM) 
Task Force and other specific calls for research training applica-
tions and Career Development Fellowships.

Capacity building in TDR

Research capability strengthening is a cross-cutting programmatic 
area of TDR established to promote and fund research training and in-
stitution development to increase the participation of developing 
countries in the development and use of new or improved tools for the 
prevention and control of communicable diseases. The long-term mis-
sion is to increase research self-reliance in endemic countries for 
identifying needs and developing solutions to public health problems 
caused by neglected infectious diseases. TDR contributes to the at-
tainment of these goals by strengthening research institutions, gen-
erating new scientific knowledge in biomedical and social sciences 
and building a critical mass of human resources to respond to re-
search and public health needs. Partnerships, networking and promot-
ing equal opportunities among DECs constitute the core of the RCS 
strategy and the basis for promoting a gender and geographically bal-
anced generation of scientists.

Eligibility

Applications for training must be designed as an integral part of an 
institution development programme that clearly documents the career 
development plans for the applicant. Following training, grantees are 
expected to exhibit scientific expertise in their chosen field, pro-
mote the development of the home institute research environment, pro-
vide training opportunities, be conversant with information and com-
munication systems, and to develop collaboration with scientists and 
institutions in country and with other countries where possible.

Proposals for training will be reviewed on the basis of (a) relevance 
of training to home institution and country/region, (b) research en-
vironment in the home institution, (c) career development plans for 
the applicant, (d) research experience of applicant, (e) previous 
education sufficient to justify requested training, (f) recommenda-
tion letters, (g) research project presented, (h) previous TDR fund-
ing and (i) national commitment to research.

Training priorities

TDR's first priority are applicants from the UN-defined Least Devel-
oped Countries (LDC). To achieve gender balance, applications are es-
pecially encouraged from women. Applications from researchers re-
questing support for training in their own country or region are 
given priority. 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. Applications are welcomed f om individuals working and 
involved in Ministries of Health with responsibility for planning, 
implementing and/or evaluating disease control programmes related to 
TDR target diseases. Preference is given to applicants under the age 
of 35 years.

How to apply

Please read and carefully follow the instructions below for complet-
ing the application, and do not exceed the page limits. Applications 
will be reviewed by a sub-Committee of the Research Strengthening 
Group (RSG) in February 2004, and the results communicated in April 
2004.

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 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 e-mail address (web site 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 (1 page) of the applicant's current post and of the 
post held immediately preceding the current post.

7. A description (2 pages) of the applicant's research interests that 
includes a clear expression on how the proposed training request will 
contribute to her/his career development and future goals. Must be 
endorsed by home institution director.

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 e-mail 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: 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 developed country; and 
discipline and disease of study.

12. For applications leading to a PhD, an outline (4 pages) of the 
proposed research to be carried out during the training, including 
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 cor-
respondence enclosed if contact has already been made with these in-
stitutions. 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 pro-
posal (with ethical clearance if necessary), and an itemized budget 
not exceeding US$10,000 total, endorsed by their supervisor. The pro-
ject proposal will be reviewed on scientific merit and relevance by 
the full 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 success-
fully the proposed studies and certifying that the applicant, if 
awarded TDR support for research training away from the home insti-
tute, will be granted a leave of absence and, on completing the 
training, will be assured of a post for at least three years. The di-
rector must also indicate how the proposed training will strengthen 
the research capabilities of the institute and document the career 
development plans for the applicant. All applicants must have perma-
nent employment.

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

All applications must be received by 1 November 2003 at the following 
address:

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