This is a call to past, present and potential NIH Fellows, Fogarty trainees—anyone with a link to the NIH who comes from South Africa and/or other African countries—to contact me.
Why? The FIC has given the MRC pilot funding to see whether an ‘NIH Alumni Association’ would be of value to you. I would like to hear from you if you are interested in being a member of a potential South African/Southern African/Sub-Saharan African/… association. Or, if you don’t want to be a member but could be a point of contact for advice/networking/involving the Diaspora, I would also like to hear from you.
What for? That’s what we need to find out from you. Click the links numbered topics below for some ideas from other South Africans to start with:
1) Mentoring, teaching, visiting staff
Alumni as co-supervisors of postgraduate degrees, especially of staff members where there is a lack of specialists in specific research areas
Alumni giving courses/talks on research skills
Alumni presenting lectures and courses to staff and postgraduates
Build capacity within African universities by assessing the environment of researchers with potential and funding not just their research/exchange/sabbatical/training/etc but also someone to take over their teaching load
Linking South African institutions with gaps in research capacity with academic institutions possessing the needed capacity
2) Technical support: workshops / training in grants processes
Training of SA researchers in:
Report writing (also perhaps train finance/administrative staff in budget reporting)
Standard operating procedures outlining requirements of institution and of PI with respect to the funding agency
Training in grants management and grant writing
Exposure of researchers to the NIH system of evaluation: the working group structure, how to write the proposal so that it will be viewed by a working group whose members are experts in and sympathetic to the area of research being proposed
Investigate the possibility of allowing researchers the freedom to add new themes to research proposals, after approval has been given for the initial proposal
3) Work with the SA Diaspora
To provide:
skills training
co-operation with grant-writing
introduction to funding opportunities
networking SA researchers with other researchers in their field
exchanges
4) Exchanges
6-12-month sabbaticals (or grants supporting a re-integration period) for scientists returning from the USA, with resources available for:
The postdoc who returns with a project and is able to hit the ground running
The postdoc who cannot bring a project home with them, needs support, startup funding, more institutional support (approach MRC or group of supportive researchers, get funding for 6-month visit to start project, write grant application, start exchanges)
Inter-university movement: to allow researchers in institutions which focus more on teaching to move to a more research-oriented institution (or partner with one)
Locate US students/researchers who could come to work in an SA environment (3-4 years to do a PhD here, or 1-2 years postdoc)
5) Association's Web, database and people
Web page where researchers can:
Find an interface which facilitates their introduction to the who, how, when, where and what of NIH
Locate and access mentors/advisers and other researchers in their field via a database
Add their details to the database
Other possible initiatives:
gatherings: a culture of reunions, e.g. piggyback on PHASA meetings, AIDS conferences
regular information: quarterly newsletters, need commitment from, for e.g., ex trainees
sustaining the researcher base: making training opportunities known to the wider research community, opening to wider audience
Other needs of the association:
A steering committee, terms of reference
6) National and institutional capacity development
Development of an individual (or more) per institution who knows NIH and its processes and people well and can advise and support colleagues writing proposals (possibly a mid-level scientist who is on a research committee)
Here is a link to what Brazilian alumni are doing.
If an association is to be formed, it will only be because you want it and will sustain it. We could use the pilot funding for you to hold initial meetings or workshops for association planning purposes.
Please contact me with your ideas, using the online form.
I look forward to corresponding with you and assisting you with setting up your NIH Alumni Association.
Carole Roberts
Office of International Affairs
South African Medical Research Council
MRC researchers, before applying for external funding, please submit all proposals to the Project Office, for the attention of Pierre Boshoff.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
United States of America
The NIH is the primary federal agency, in the United States of America, for funding and performing medical research.
Please note the NIH Grants Policy Statement (10/98): If you are intending to apply for NIH funding, you might like to start by looking at their Grants Policy Statement which includes a description of their policy on awards to foreign institutions, international organizations, and domestic grants with substantial foreign components. See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm
NIH funding opportunities and notices
(Suggestion: scroll down to the ‘Weekly Issue of the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts’ where you can read each week’s list of new announcements, or subscribe to a listserv which will email them to you each week.) You need to check the eligibility requirements for these announcements, as not all are open to non-US applicants.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
United States of America
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and health education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
Community of Science Funding Database (COS)
The MRC subscribes to the COS Funding Database which describes itself as “The most comprehensive source of funding information available on the Web, with more than 25,000 records, representing over 400,000 funding opportunities, worth over $33 billion.”
The Wellcome Trust is an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. Established in 1936 and with an endowment of around £13 billion, it is the UK's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research.
Principal Research Fellowships
This award is particularly suitable for exceptional senior research scientists currently based overseas who wish to work in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Applicants can express an interest in this award at any time. Interviews for Principal Research Fellowships will normally be held in June and December.
European Commission, Framework Programme 7
(FP7) European Union
For guidelines on what is possible with the FP7, please visit the webpage of the European South Africa Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP). South Africa and the European Union enjoy a privileged partnership marked by longstanding political, economic and development cooperation ties. The first intergovernmental agreement ever concluded between South Africa and the European Union, the Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation signed in 1996, afforded South African researchers the opportunity to participate fully in the EU's Framework Programmes for Research and Technology Development. ESASTAP, a Specific Support Action, implemented by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and funded by the European Commission (EC) under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), will significantly enhance the support and assistance available to both South African and European researchers to optimally leverage mutual benefits from this partnership. You will find information on searching for collaborating partners, mobility (SA to Europe and vice versa) funding, seed funding for building the early stages of collaborations, and how to access research funding.
European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) European Union
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) was created in 2003 as a European response to the global health crisis caused by the three main poverty-related diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. These diseases account for over 6 million deaths each year, and the numbers are growing. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's worst-affected region where besides ravaging lives, they impede development and cause poverty.
Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases
(TDR) World Health Organisation
TDR funds specific research projects in diseases of poverty, which cover infectious diseases and the culture and environment that contribute to these problems. It also supports the development of individuals and institutions in the countries where these diseases are prevalent.
TWAS is an autonomous international organization, based in Trieste, Italy, that promotes scientific excellence for sustainable development in the South. Originally named "Third World Academy of Sciences", it was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the South under the leadership of the late Nobel laureate Abdus Salam of Pakistan. The Academy's strength resides in the quality and diversity of its membership - internationally renowned scientists elected by their peers.
The objective of the National Research Foundation (NRF) is to support and promote research in South Africa through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of the natural and social sciences, humanities and technology.
Comments and Submissions:
The content of this page is maintained by the MRC’s Office of International Affairs. If you have any comments or wish to have your funding opportunity, training opportunity, meeting (workshops, conferences, symposia, etc.) listed here, please contact carole.roberts@mrc.ac.za. The MRC reserves the right to decide what gets published.
Call for MPH Admissions 2011 - James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University
The James P Grant School of Public Health, established in 2004, has a diverse student body with international and national students each year in its MPH programme. In addition to Bangladesh, students are recruited from Asia, Africa, Australia and South America as well as countries from the North (Canada, Germany, Japan and USA). In the last six years, a total of 159 students joined the programme from 19 different countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Tanzania, Uganda and USA. James P Grant School of Public Health is recognized as one of the preeminent educational institutions in the world by World Health Organization (WHO). The School is the product of a strong collaboration between BRAC University, BRAC, BRAC International and the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B). The School has faculty and research partnerships with Harvard University, George Washington University, Columbia University, and Johns Hopkins University in the United States; the University of Ottawa in Canada; the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Institute for Development Studies, and the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom; the Karolinska Institute in Sweden; the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands; Heidelberg University in Germany; the University of Nagasaki in Japan; and Kerala & TISS in Mumbai, India.
As of last year, 136 students graduated from the School, with many working in reputed international & national institutions, UN agencies, donor organizations and government. In addition, universities and research organizations around the world also employ a good number of our MPH graduates. Some of our graduates are also PhD candidates studying in a variety of internationally acclaimed universities, including Columbia University, George Washington University, Harvard University, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Adelaide, University of California-Davis, etc.
For the Call for Admissions for 2011, the application deadline is: September 12, 2010. Application forms may be downloaded from the website.
Thank you for assisting us in finding International candidates for our MPH programme for 2011-2012.
Contact: Sabina Faiz Rashid, Associate Professor & MPH Coordinator, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, 66 Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh, anwarfazal2004@yahoo.com
[Source: AFRO-NETS]
GACD Request for Expressions of Interest for a Secretariat Host Institution
The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) seeks a not-for-profit institution of high integrity and good legal standing to host its Secretariat.
Click here for further details. Closing date: 14 September, 2010.
[Source: GACD Member Agency Focal Point in South Africa]
NRF Revised Thuthuka Programme: Call for research proposals for funding in 2011
The Thuthuka Programme falls within the Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Directorate of the NRF. The goal of the HICD Directorate is to develop institutional research capabilities and infrastructure in parallel with the appropriate human capital to drive the research and development strategies within the National System of Innovation.
In order to achieve its aims, the NRF invites research proposals in the following Thuthuka sub-programmes:
PhD Track – for applicants under the age of 45, registered for a doctoral degree
Post-PhD Track – for applicants under the age of 45, who wish to develop their research careers
NRF Rating Track – for applicants who wish to become NRF rated researchers
Refer to the Thuthuka Manual for eligibility criteria applicable to each Track. The Manual should be consulted before application.
Incorporation of current Thuthuka grantholders in the revised Programme: The relevant rules and requirements for the incorporation of the current Thuthuka grant-holders are outlined here.
Application Deadlines: The Call for applications for funding of projects within the respective sub-programmes stated above opens on 1 July 2010. All applications, validated by the employing institution's research administration or responsible Designated Authority (DA), must be submitted to the NRF no later than Wednesday, 15 September 2010. Potential applicants should be alerted to the institution’s internal closing date which should be at least two weeks prior to the NRF closing date.
For more information please view the attached documents or visit the NRF website at www.nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
Call for Proposals for the South Africa and Italy Joint Science and Technology Research Cooperation Programme 2010
Closing date: 16 September 2010
This call is open to researchers residing in South Africa, who are employed at a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. An application must designate two Principal Investigators (PIs), one in South Africa and the other in Italy, who will bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination, as well as scientific and financial reporting. The South African applicant must be in possession of at least a master’s degree (preferably a PhD). Commercial institutions and private education institutions are not eligible to apply under this programme.
Researchers working in the following priority research areas may submit their applications:
Astrophysics & Radio-Astronomy
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Physics
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology & New Advanced Materials
Medicine & Health
Energy and Environment
In addition, the two Parties attach particular importance to the “Human Capital Development as a Cross-cutter” (i.e. allowing two annual additional trips per project to Italy for South African students, supported by the South African Party) NB: Projects ubmitted in other research areas will not be considered.
A maximum of R450 000.00 per project may be used as a general indicator of available funds should be budgeted (i.e. R150 000.00 per year) in South Africa.
Applications should be submitted electronically to Puleng.tshitlho@nrf.ac.za no later than 16 September 2010.
NRF contact for SA/Italy Enquiries (grant and technical related queries): Ms Puleng Tshitlho, GMSA (IRG), National Research Foundation, tel +27 12 481 4061, Puleng.tshitlho@nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
Wellcome Trust’s International Engagement Awards offering grants of up to £30,000
Wellcome Trust is accepting applications for the International Engagement Awards for global health research. A wide range of people including media professionals, educators, science communicators, health professionals and researchers in bioscience, health, bioethics and history can apply for these awards, which offer grants of up to £30,000 for a period of maximum three years.
These grants will be given to projects that aim to achieve some or all of the following:
to strengthen the capacity of people in low- and middle-income countries to facilitate public engagement with health research
to stimulate dialogue about health research and its impact on the public in a range of community and public contexts in low- and middle-income countries
to investigate and test new methods of engagement, participation, communication or education around health research
to promote collaboration on engagement projects between researchers and community or public organisations
to support Wellcome Trust funded researchers in low- and middle-income countries in engaging with the public and policy makers
Projects could involve:
communities and members of the public (particularly those affected by or involved in health research)
science communicators, health and science journalists
healthcare professionals, educators, field workers, community workers
policy and decision makers
Applicants should be from low-and-middle income countries. Applicants from the UK can apply for the grants in partnership with local partners from low-and-middle-income countries. “All projects must involve engagement with health research. Projects dealing purely with development research not related to health are not eligible. Please note also, that the scheme is not intended to support standard delivery of health education and promotion which does not focus on health research or involve health researchers.”
Applicants can contact the Trust before the set deadlines to find out whether they are eligible to submit the applications. Applications form can be downloaded from the Trust’s website. There are two upcoming deadlines and preliminary expression of interests should be submitted earlier than these:
29 October 2010 (Preliminary expressions of interest should be sent by 17 September 2010)
21 April 2011 (Preliminary expressions of interest should be sent by 11 March 2011)
South Africa-Kenya Joint Science & Technology Research Programme - 2nd Call for Research Proposals: 2010
The Government of Kenya and the Republic of South Africa signed an Agreement for cooperation in science and technology in August 2004. The two countries have decided to jointly support researchers from public universities and public research institutes on an equal and mutually beneficial basis in an effort to enhance scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. In 2009 the joint S&T Research supported 6 research projects which are still on-going. Only 5 projects will be funded in 2010.
In this year, Joint research project proposals shall be submitted to the relevant authorities in both countries for evaluation (the National Council for Science and Technology in Kenya and the National Research Foundation in South Africa). Evaluation will be done according to the following criteria:
Scientific and technical merit;
Impact on bilateral science and technology relations;
Significance for both countries;
Potential for creating research and development capacity;
Quality and clarity of project presentation;
Methodology and,
Suitability and feasibility.
For the purposes of this call, research projects falling within the following areas/disciplines will be considered:
Biosciences (food, agriculture biotechnology, health and indigenous knowledge)
Space Science (Astronomy & earth observation)
Water management (Harvesting, purification and water resource mapping)
Successful projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of R300, 000 (Ksh 3,000,000) per project of which R150 000 should be the SA budget component and (R150 000 in Kenyan Shillings), the Kenyan component for a period not exceeding two years. Researchers should therefore note that two separate budgets would be required from each side. Researchers should take note that they will be responsible for their own international travel, subsistence and accommodation.
Funding may only be utilized for the following items:
The joint application for funding must include two Principal Investigators. Researchers. The SA applicant must be employed at a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council in South Africa. Researchers from both countries must be in possession of a PhD. The Principal Investigators will be responsible for the scientific and financial reporting, as well as other technical and administrative co-ordination of the project. They will also be required to submit an annual and final report to their respective funding agencies upon completion of the project. Researchers employed at private companies will not be allowed to apply under this programme.
Application forms for proposal submission may be obtained from the National Council for Science and Technology (http://www.ncst.go.ke) for Kenyan applicants and from the National Research Foundation in South Africa (http://www.nrf.ac.za) for our South African applicants. Submissions should include Curriculum Vitaes of the Principal Investigators and must be received by 18 September 2010 via e-mail. Signatures may either be signed electronically or scanned. Please ensure that the partner’s signed page is attached which may be a faxed or scanned copy.
Electronic copies must be submitted to the e-mail addresses below, to the respective country of the researcher. The SA application, together with the scanned signature page must be emailed directly to Seymour@nrf.ac.za. No Kenyan application will be accepted in SA.
Kindly note that budget availability and proposals with a high evaluation rating are extremely important factors in determining the success of an application. No hard copies will be accepted.
Researchers must ensure that applications have been submitted in both countries. Applications that do not adhere to this criterion will be disqualified.
Research Grants Division: Mr Said S. Hussein, tel +254 20 224 1349, fax +254 20 221 3215, husaid59@yahoo.com
AND
National Research Foundation (NRF), PO Box 2600, 0001 PRETORIA, South Africa; http://www.nrf.ac.za Programme related enquiries: Mr Michael Nxumalo, michael@nrf.ac.za, tel +27 12 481 4011, fax +27 12 481 4044 Grant and technical related enquiries: Ms Lee-Anne Seymour, seymour@nrf.ac.za, tel +27 481 4121, fax 0866 399 571
[Source: NRF]
CU-SA Fogarty AIDS Training Program USA Training Opportunities Call for Applications for 2011
Please use this link (pdf format, 142kb) to find the CU-SA Fogarty AIDS Research Training Program Call for Applications for traineeships in the USA in 2011. Now in its 16th year, this training programme has been pivotal in building the HIV/AIDS and TB public health and basic science base in southern Africa.
This Call for Applications covers long-term and short-term training opportunities in the USA only.
There are four categories of training available in the USA as follows:
Category 1A: Post-doctoral traineeship in Epidemiology or Biostatistics at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Category 1B: Post-doctoral traineeship in Social Science or Public Health or Research Ethics at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Category 2A: Short-term HIV and/or TB Basic Science skills training in HIV and TB laboratories in the USA
Category 2B: Short-term HIV and/or TB Social Science and Public Health Ethics training in the USA
Closing date for receipt of applications is 20 September 2010.
[Source: Director: CU-SA Fogarty AIDS Research Training Programme]
Japanese-South African Cooperative Research: Call for Proposals for 2011 Funding
In accordance with Article IV of the Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as “MOU”) signed on 22 July 2008 between Japan Science and Technology Agency (hereinafter referred to as “JST”) and The National Research Foundation of South Africa (hereinafter referred to as “NRF”), these Joint Guidelines provide methods of implementation of the Programme between the two Parties.
I-1. New Scheme for Joint Funding of Japanese-South African Research Cooperation: Based on the MOU, JST and NRF have agreed to establish a new scheme for joint funding of Japanese-South African cooperative research projects. After consultations between JST and NRF, “Life Sciences” has been selected as the field of research to which the joint funding scheme will be applied.
I-2. Aim of Program and Research Field: The aim of the program is to strengthen the collaboration between Japan and South Africa within the field of “Life Sciences” to achieve world-class scientific results, leading towards new innovative technologies.
Applications should be submitted electronically to Ms Lee-Anne Seymour (seymour@nrf.ac.za) by no later than 30 September 2010.
Programme Related queries: Mr Tebogo Mokoma, Programme (IRC), National Research Foundation, tel +27 12 481 4185, tebogo.mokoma@nrf.ac.za
Grant and technical related queries: Ms Lee-Anne Seymour, GMSA (IRG), National Research Foundation, tel +27 12 481 4121, seymour@nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
Japan Science & Technology Agency/Japan International Cooperation Agency Science & Technology Research Partnership For Sustainable Development: Call For Proposals 2010
In order to advance research and development on issues of global concern such as the environment and energy, disaster prevention and infectious diseases, the Japanese government has decided to supplement the country’s conventional approach to technology transfer with the sponsorship of joint research initiatives between Japanese universities and research institutions and their counterparts in developing countries, among which South Africa. In order to do this, a joint research funding scheme has been created aimed at the promotion of international partnerships and jointly administrated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In addition, the scheme will involve participation by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) insofar as concerns the pre-selection and submission of project proposals to the Japanese funding agencies, in which regard the DST is pleased herewith to invite said submissions by the closing date indicated below.
Interested researchers are requested to note the following:
Only project proposals submitted in both countries will be considered for funding, thus necessitating prior coordination between the Japanese and South African applicants.
Japanese applications should be submitted online at http://www.e-rad.go.jp. South African applications should be submitted directly to the DST, at the coordinates provided below.
Only project proposals for research in the following themes and sub-themes will be considered for funding:
Theme 1: Environment and Energy
Sub-Themes: Research contributing to adaptation to or migration of climate change; Research contributing to the resolution of global-scale environmental issues
Theme 2: Disaster Prevention
Sub-Theme: Disaster prevention attuned to the needs of developing countries
Theme 3: Infectious Diseases
Sub-Theme: Research on measures to address infectious diseases attuned to the needs of developing countries
Proposals submitted in South Africa will be subject to endorsement at government level, and subsequent recommendations for funding made to the Japanese authorities. However, the final decision concerning funding will be made exclusively by the Japanese authorities, and funding will only be accorded by the Japanese on a unilateral basis according to their own procedures and criteria.
As a result of the unilateral nature of funding, the following information should be provided:
Full contact details of the applicant, including professional affiliation, race and gender;
A detailed description of the project, including expected outcomes and significance of the research[1] and,
A detailed CV of the applicant, as well as an indication of previous collaborative activities undertaken between him/her and the Japanese counterpart.
A web link can be access on this address: http://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/index.html where a detailed guideline document may be found accompanying this call. Note however that most of the information contained in the site applies to the Japanese applicant only. The only responsibility extending to the South African applicant is the submission of a counterpart proposal to the DST. Note also that the deadline indicated in the website is incorrect for South Africa’s closing date, and applicants are requested to adhere to that indicated above instead.
The closing date for applications is 30 September 2010. By this date, a single electronic and/or a single hard copy of the proposal should be submitted to: Development Partnerships, Department of Science and Technology, Private Bag X894, 0001 Pretoria; either Ms Eudy Mabuza, tel 012 843 6362, eudy.mabuza@dst.gov.za or Ms Tshawekazi Tembani, tel 012 843 6391, tshawekazi.tembani@dst.gov.za.
[Source: NRF]
USAID special call: Use of information and communication technology (ICT) to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa
USAID/South Africa is making a special call for the submission of concept papers for a public-private partnership (PPP) which capitalises on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
PPPs are collaborative endeavours that combine resources from the public sector with resources from the private sector to accomplish development goals. The project should be structured as a global development alliance (GDA), which is a type of public-private partnership (PPP), and will likely include at least one (private sector) resource partner and at least one implementing partner. To meet the definition established under the GDA APS, there must be at least a 1:1 leverage ratio; 25% of the leverage from the resource partner must be cash.
USAID/South Africa intends to make up to three awards for a total of US$1 000 000.00 for an alliance lasting up to three year(s), subject to final USAID approval and availability of funding.
This APS will be open for the period of six months from 30 March 2010 to 30 September 2010, and the application procedure remains the same. USAID/South Africa will review concept papers on an ongoing basis until the cut off date, pending the availability of funding. USAID reserves the right to fund one or more or none of the applications which may be submitted.
Contact: Lauren A. Marks, USAID/South Africa, Health Program and Public Private Partnership Advisor, lmarks@usaid.gov, tel 012 452 2240, cell 083 382 0564
[Source: US Embassy]
NRF/Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Cooperative Research/Joint Science and Technology Programme
Closing date for SA applications: 1 October 2010
On the 28 August 2003, South Africa signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology with Japan, followed two years later by a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) aimed at its implementation as part of an annual cycle of joint research funding between the two countries. Following five successful joint calls for proposals, from 2005 to 2009, the NRF is pleased to announce the sixth such call for 2010, and herewith invite all interested parties to submit their applications, using the form accompanying this document by a date no later than that indicated. Only 4 projects will be funded in 2010.
In this year, Joint research project proposals shall be submitted to the relevant authorities in both countries for evaluation (the JSPS in Japan and the National Research Foundation in South Africa).
Proposals may be submitted in all fields of the natural and social sciences, including the humanities and engineering. Note however that the following areas have been designated as priority for SA/Japan joint research, and may be considered as such for the purposes of final project selection:
Biotechnology
Information Technology
Infectious Diseases
New and Advanced Materials
While NRF funding levels are not fixed the total amount of funding requested should preferably not exceed R300 000. Funding will be made available for a maximum of twyears, to be paid in annual instalments(R 150 000 per year) and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2011.
SA applications should be submitted electronically to seymour@nrf.ac.za no later than 1 October 2010.
All Japanese applications must be submitted by 13 September 2010 to the JSPS.
NRF Contacts for NRF/JSPS Enquiries (Grant and technical related queries): Ms Lee Anne Seymour, GMSA (IRG), National Research Foundation, tel +27 12 481 4121, seymour@nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
From EU National Contact Point (NCP) for Health, Prof Iqbal Parker: EU-FP-7 Work Programme for Health: 2011
Dear Colleagues,
Attached you will find the final EU-FP-7 Health Work Programme for 2011.
Please note the following closing dates:
Single stage: 10 November 2010
Two stage: 13 October. 2010
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
Regards
Iqbal Parker
South African National Contact Point for EU-FP-7
[Source: Prof Iqbal Parker]
European South Africa Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP): New FP7 calls
The European Commission has published 51 new FP7 calls on the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS). The calls are in all FP7 thematic areas, the people programme, International Cooperation (INCO), infrastructure, and SME.
ESASTAP, together with the South African NCPs, will be organising thematic workshops throughout the country to analyse the calls and prepare South African participation in the calls. The workshops will be published on our website soon.
The ESASTAP team can be contacted at contact@esastap.org.za or at tel +27 12 843 6341 / 6338.
[Source: ESASTAP]
South Africa-Germany Joint Science & Technology Research Cooperation - Call For Joint Project Proposals: 2010/2011
Closing date: 15 October 2010
In 1996 South Africa and Germany signed an inter-governmental bilateral agreement on cooperation in the fields of science, research and technology, jointly implemented and administrated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) on behalf of the DST in South Africa and by the International Bureau on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) in Germany. Within the framework of this agreement, the NRF is pleased herewith to announce the 2010 call for joint research project proposals between South African and German researchers, and invite all local researchers wishing to participate, to submit their proposals by 15 October 2010.
The NRF looks forward to providing support for the development of well educated, well-trained and innovative young researchers who will create depth within our academic and professional workforce in a sustainable environment that will benefit the present generation but also future generations.
Please note that the BMBF will publish a similar call in Germany. Even though the deadline for applications indicated below only applies to South African researchers, the BMBF is urged to request their German partners to submit counterpart proposals to the IB of the BMBF by the same deadline nonetheless, thus allowing the two funding agencies to coordinate their evaluation and selection processes as closely as possible and to ensure that funding becomes available in both countries rapidly and at the same time. Thus, while late submission in South Africa will lead to a proposal being disqualified, late submission of the counterpart proposal in Germany may result in a delay of as much as one year before funding is accorded to either party. Of course, failure to submit a counterpart proposal in Germany will equally result in the disqualification of the South African application. The NRF will not be held responsible for non-submission of the application in the partner country. The onus is on the applicant to locate their own research partner. The funding process is a highly competitive process and the number of applications received will determine the percentage of applications to be funded.
Who may apply? This call is open to employed researchers residing in South Africa and employed in a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. An application must designate two principal investigators, one in South Africa and one in Germany, who will bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting. The South African principal investigator should, ideally, be in possession of a master degree, preferably a PhD. Applications from private companies will not be accepted.
How do I apply? Application forms for South African applicants may be downloaded electronically from the NRF website (www.nrf.ac.za). Details concerning the submission of counterpart proposals in Germany may be obtained from the website of the International Bureau of the BMBF (http://www.internationales-buero.de). Only an electronic copy (max of 2mb) and a scanned signature page of the South African application should be emailed to: Ms Puleng Tshitlho, Puleng.tshitlho@nrf.ac.za. No hard copies will be accepted. Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted.
Which activities may I apply for? Funding will only be accorded for activities undertaken within the framework of joint research projects. In this regard, in all cases of researcher or student mobility, the sending party will be responsible for financing international travel, while the receiving party will be responsible for financing the accommodation and subsistence of their international visitors. Workshops, conference arrangements and symposia will be supported under this programme. Local travel and fees relating to the organisation of events (venue, catering, audiovisual equipment etc.) will be the financial responsibility of the investigator representing the country in which the event is held, to be paid from his/her allocation of the joint funding accorded. A maximum of three international flights per year will be allowed for the SA applicant visit with a maximum of up to two months stay in Germany will be accommodated. It is highly recommended that one researcher and two students travel per year.
The following may not be funded from the NRF allocation: consultant’s fees, educational expenses (scholarships, etc.), insurance and medical care, project management fees, publication costs, salaries, temporary staff fees. Equipment (not more that 10% of the total requested amount) and consumables may be financed.
b) Measures in the areas of biotechnology and nanotechnology.
How much should I apply for? While funding levels are not fixed, a suggested maximum of R300 000.00 per project may be used as a general indicator of available funds (i.e. R150 000.00 per year) in South Africa. Funding will be made available for a maximum of two years to support initiating projects. Please note that your budget will be cut if the activities applied for are not in accordance to this agreement.
Note that both scientific and financial reporting on the project are OBLIGATORY conditions of funding in subsequent years.
How are applications evaluated? Following the closing date applications will be submitted to both a postal and panel review by recognised local experts in the various fields of research represented by the proposals received. These experts will evaluate each proposal based on the following criteria:
Track record of the applicant
Quality of the proposal/Scientific merit
Potential for promoting equity and redress / Capacity building
Value of the collaboration/national priority
Possible impact of the research/national priority
Following local evaluation a shortlist of projects to be funded will be constituted in consultation with the BMBF and based on the results of the evaluations done in both countries. Funding will only be accorded to projects having received approval on both sides, and only once both parties have given their approval. Applications not submitted in either of the two countries will be automatically disqualified. (Note that proposals demonstrating strong elements of capacity building, particularly among previously disadvantaged socioeconomic population groups, will be favourably regarded). Kindly note that budget availability, highly favourably ranking are extremely important factors in determining the success of an application.
All South African applications must be submitted by: 15 October 2010. Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding.
Contact in South Africa:
Programme related queries: Mr Siyabonga Kohli, tel 012 481 4356, skohli@nrf.ac.za
Grant related and technical queries: Ms Puleng Tshitlho, tel 012 481 4061, Puleng.tshitlho@nrf.ac.za
Contact in Germany:
Ms Petra Ruth Mann, tel +49 228 382 1461, fax +49 228 382 1444, petra-ruth.mann@dlr.de
NB: Please note that this call operates in terms of the South Africa-Germany bi-national science and technology agreement only, not the NRF-DFG bilateral agreement. German applications submitted to the DFG instead of the BMBF will result in the automatic disqualification of the South African counterpart proposal.
[Source: NRF]
NRF Community Engagement Programme Call for Proposals
The Community Engagement Programme is a competitive programme, which provides the space for research that contributes both to knowledge production within the ambit of community engagement (here community is defined in its broadest sense); as well as research on the processes and dynamics of engagement from the perspective of the higher education sector. To further elaborate, the programme is aimed at supporting and providing the enabling conditions for higher education institutions to come to grips with some of the philosophical and conceptual challenges associated with the dynamics of community engagement and social responsiveness, as a field of research enquiry.
Objectives of the programme:
To sharpen and mainstream the higher education sector’s response to community engagement as a third pillar of academic activity (Hall: 2009).[1]
To facilitate the development of robust theoretical and conceptual positions on community engagement in the South African context; and thereby stimulate and contribute to contemporary debates on the issue.
To create new forms of knowledge in this area.
Key features of the programme:
Research which contributes to deeper theoretical, philosophical and conceptual orientations of community engagement from a higher education perspective.
Research which interrogates the complex interplay and processes of engagement; that is, the various ways in which knowledge is produced, assimilated and utilized through interactions and relationships with communities.
Case studies, typologies, appreciative inquiry about community engagement and community assessments.
Key assumptions underpinning the programme:
The conception, definition or meaning ascribed to the notion of “community” is not universal or pre-determined in the programme; it may be the focus of the project; and will depend on how each project defines it.
An exploration of community engagement implies that communities (however defined) have roles and agency in a reciprocal set of relations.
Call conditions:
Rated and unrated researchers are eligible for funding in this programme, in accordance with the strategy and eligibility criteria, as set out in the call guide, for funding commencing in 2011, for a period up to 3 years.
Applicants are invited to submit proposals on the NRF interim system (http://nrfinterim.nrf.ac.za). Please select the Community Engagement Programme under “Create New Application”.
Call opens: 23 August 2010 Call closes: 29 October 2010
Please ensure that all applications are validated by Designated Authorities by 5 November 2010.
Award notification: December 2010 for commencement of funding in 2011.
Please direct all enquiries to: Mr Martin Tjatji, Grant Officer, GMSA: Strategic Knowledge Fields, tel +27 (0) 12 481 4126, fax +27 (0) 86 562 9590, martin.tjatji@nrf.ac.za and Ms Mpho More, Liaison Officer, GMSA: Strategic Knowledge Fields, tel +27 (0) 12 481 4269, fax +27 (0) 86 647 7742, mpho.more@nrf.ac.za
[1] Hall, M (2009) Community Engagement in South African Higher Education. Paper presented at the CHE Symposium on Community Engagement, 19 March 2009, Pretoria.
[Source: NRF]
EDCTP launches new calls for proposals
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) welcomes project proposals as a response to the following calls:
Member States Initiated projects on HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria
Available funds: € 2.5 million
Open to application: 16 August 2010
Deadline of application: 16 November 2010
Purpose of the grant: European Member States often independently fund projects that fall within the remit of EDCTP (clinical trials, capacity building and networking on HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa). The purpose of this grant is for EDCTP to provide funding and added value to these initiatives by acting as the locus of integration for various projects and programmes that have been independently initiated and/or funded by member states.
Evaluating the impact of clinical trials in Africa
Available funds: € 700,000
Open to application: 16 August 2010
Deadline of application: 15 December 2010
Purpose of the grant: There is anecdotal information that clinical trials may negatively impact routine healthcare delivery by diverting resources. Contrary reports, however, have indicated that clinical trials contribute to the quality of routine healthcare, for example, by providing training and improved infrastructure. This grant therefore, is aimed at gaining comprehensive insight into the impact of clinical trials on health services in sub-Saharan Africa, especially with regard to the quality of those services delivered to women and/or children. Emphasis should be placed on evaluating the impact from the perspective of patients; health professionals; the community; and, public health services at the sites in sub-Saharan Africa, where the clinical trials are being conducted. The project should be designed so that the outcome could contribute to the development of methods to further embed clinical research within the health services. This is important since it is the health services that that would eventually be responsible for implementing the (new) interventions resulting from the clinical trials. This call offers consortia senior public health/social science researchers from Europe and sub-Saharan Africa the opportunity to apply for a 1-2 year research grant to investigate the impact of EDCTP and non-EDCTP funded clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the National Research Foundation (NRF) will host an ASSAf-DST-NRF South African Young Scientists’ Conference on 12-13 October 2010 at the DST Auditorium, Pretoria, South Africa. Hosted within the framework of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and Organization of Women Scientists for the Developing World (OWSDW) National Chapters implemented by ASSAf, the conference is aligned to the International Year Theme, which in 2010 is biodiversity.
Please find attached the conference announcement and call for abstracts regarding the conference. Please assist us in distributing the call as widely as possible to encourage more young male and female scientists to respond.
Given this forum's interest in health systems, you may want to register or follow the proceedings of the first Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, being held 16-19 November in Montreux, Switzerland. This symposium is being organized by the World Health Organization; the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR); the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research; the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproductive Health (HRP); and the Global Forum for Health Research, and sponsored by numerous other global partners.
This first symposium is dedicated to improving the scientific evidence needed by health policy-makers and practitioners to inform their decisions related to accelerating universal health coverage. Achieving and sustaining universal coverage requires attention to a broad range of issues that are central to health systems performance. This includes drawing on the six interdependent health system building blocks - finance, workforce, services, technologies, information, and governance - and understanding how policies and programmes from within and beyond the health sector can be developed and implemented effectively, efficiently, and equitably.
You may also be aware that implementation research (IR) is a growing and necessary field to help scale up new services and interventions. TDR is leading a new initiative on the use of IR to increase access to these improved tools against infectious diseases and map existing and new strategies. Nearly 70 researchers, implementers, scientists and representatives from Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) attended a June consultation in Uganda, which centred on a planned report identifying gaps and priorities in implementation research into diseases of poverty.
Please click here for more information on this initiative and the report.
The Partnership Board of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is seeking two new members to replace those who have completed their tenure. Applications are invited from senior scientists in the areas of malaria and Industry/Regulatory Affairs (preferably having worked or coming from such sector).
Specific roles:
Preparing medium and long-term plans bearing in mind the ultimate goals of the EDCTP programme and the ever changing landscape of poverty-related diseases
Working closely with the Developing Countries Coordinating Committee (DCCC) in identifying scientific strategic needs and priorities for new or improved clinical interventions, training and capacity development
Preparing calls for project proposals
Monitoring and evaluation of the EDCTP programme and strategy
Deadline for application: The deadline for application is 15 October 2010.
Position starting date: The position starting date is 1 January 2011. Members shall be appointed for an initial term of up to two years, followed by conditional renewable terms of one year each for a maximum period of five years.
More details on the position and how to apply: For more details please consult the full vacancy text.
[Source: EDCTP]
Vacancy: EDCTP Developing Countries Coordination Committee (DCCC) members (position starting date 1 January 2011)
The Developing Countries Coordination Committee (DCCC) of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is seeking four new members to replace those who have completed their tenure. Applications are invited from senior scientific experts and health professionals from sub-Saharan Africa with experience in HIV/AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis in the following areas:
HIV/AIDS (1 position for Southern African region)
TB (1 position for each of the following sub-Saharan Africa regions: Eastern Africa, Central Africa and Southern African)
Specific roles:
Provide strategic technical and scientific inputs on the EDCTP programme strategy
Identify gaps and monitor progress in health capacity development in Africa
Develop strategies and actions to improve coordination between its members and with other partners
Advocate and promote the visibility and impact of the EDCTP and African health research community in general
Develop and implement strategies to develop African commitment, ownership and leadership of the EDCTP and international health research programmes in Africa
Facilitate networking strategies of EDCTP
Work closely with other EDCTP constituencies and Secretariat
Deadline for application: The deadline for application is 20 October 2010.
Position starting date: The position starting date is 1 January 2011. Members shall be appointed for a period of two years.
For more details please consult the full vacancy text on the EDCTP website.
About EDCTP: The mission of EDCTP is to accelerate the development of new or improved tools to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa and to generally improve the quality of health research.
About the Developing Countries Coordination Committee (DCCC): The DCCC is an independent advisory body comprising prominent African scientists and health professionals. Its general role is to ensure the commitment, ownership and leadership of the EDCTP programme by the participating sub-Saharan Africa countries.
[Source: AFRO-NETS]
17th Annual Conference of the Cameroon Bioscience Society (CBS)
Universite des Montagnes, in Bangangté, (Cameroon)
November 30–December 04, 2010
Theme: Bioscience and Sustainable development
Deadline for abstract submissions: 15 October 2010
Of interest to those trying to find a balance of power between international funders and local researchers, see Improving International Research Contracting (Editorial, July 2009 WHO Bulletin)
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Last updated:
31 August, 2010
