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 (FP&) 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.
Other calls
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) 8th Call for Letters of Interest
The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) 8th Call for Letters of Interest is open on the MMV website.
Medicines for Malaria Venture is a not-for-profit organization committed to the discovery, development and delivery of affordable anti-malarial drugs through public-private partnerships. We are looking towards the next generation of molecules which will power the agenda for the eradication of Malaria.
Three areas are highlighted:
The development of new medicines to produce a radical cure by targeting the hypnozoite stages of Plasmodium vivax,
New medicines that in addition to working on the erythrocyte stages will also have activity against gametocytes therefore playing a role in transmission blocking and
The development of new Combination Therapies for uncomplicated malaria not involving Artemisinin or endoperoxides.
Discovery projects will be considered assuming they have reached the early Lead stage. (Compounds with an EC50<100nM in the infected Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte assay, selectivity to a mammalian cell line and demonstrated oral bioavailability and in vivo oral efficacy in a rodent malaria model). We are particularly interested in molecules with predicted long half-lives in humans, or with effects on transmission blocking, or molecules targeting the hypnozoite forms of Plasmodium vivax.
Projects in clinical development are especially welcome. Medicines or new combinations with potential for development of new combination therapies, or target radical cure of Plasmodium vivax or transmission blocking are encouraged. Formulation developments that decrease the treatment period of Primaquine, or increases safety in G6PD deficient patients are a key priority.
Applications may be from single institutions or partnerships between academic centers and pharmaceutical companies.
Deadline for submission: 16 March 2010
Applications should be submitted electronically at proposals@mmv.org. For application details and further information please go to the MMV website.
Vrije University Amsterdam-NRF Desmond Tutu Doctoral Programme: Second Call For Applications For Doctoral Scholarships
Vrije University (VU) Amsterdam has established the Desmond Tutu Programme in honour of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond M. Tutu. This Programme focuses on the theme Youth, Sports and Reconciliation and aims to strengthen the co-operation between VU Amsterdam and South African Higher Education Institutions.
In support of the drive to increase the number of South African doctoral graduates, VU Amsterdam and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have introduced the Vrije University Amsterdam-NRF Desmond Tutu Doctoral Programme for South African students seeking to pursue research doctoral studies.
We invite potential South African students to apply for Vrije University Amsterdam–NRF Desmond Tutu Doctoral scholarships. The format will be a sandwich programme in which students will:
Register and obtain their research doctoral degrees from VU Amsterdam;
Be jointly supervised by academic researchers at VU Amsterdam and a South African Higher Education Institution;
If required, complete required coursework for doctoral studies both in South Africa and in the Netherlands;
Spend between one (1) and two (2) months per year over a period of four (4) years at VU Amsterdam to undertake course and thesis related work and,
The application form can be found on the NRF website http://www.nrf.ac.za and the guidelines provide further information. Complete applications are due on Wednesday, 31 March 2010.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Queries: For further information on potential research projects and other matters in relation to this programme, please contact Ms Danielle Nel at telephone number 012 481 4191 or by e-mail to danielle.nel@nrf.ac.za .
[Source: NRF]
South Africa/Mozambique Joint Science & Technology Research: Call for Project Proposals - 2010
Application period: 23 February 2010 to 23 March 2010
In July 2006 an agreement on collaboration in Science and Technology between the governments of South Africa and Mozambique was signed, followed later by a Programme of Cooperation (PoC) aimed at its implementation. The PoC sought to facilitate scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries by supporting researchers from universities, universities of technology, science councils and public research institutes on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.
Cooperative activities covered by the PoC include:
the organisation and realisation of joint research projects
the exchange of researchers
joint seminars and workshops
any other form of cooperation as may be determined through mutual agreement
Under the terms of the PoC, joint research project proposals shall be submitted to the relevant authorities in both countries for evaluation (the National Research Foundation in South Africa and the National Research Fund (FNI) in Mozambique), with evaluation done according to the following criteria:
scientific excellence
impact on bilateral science and technology relations
potential for creating research and development capacity
quality of project presentation
research capacity development
For the purposes of this call, research projects falling within the following areas/disciplines will be considered:
Biosciences (food, agriculture and health technologies)
Space Science
Indigenous Knowledge System
Environmental and Climate Change
Mathematical Sciences
Energy
The South African principal investigator should preferably be in possession of PhD.
A number of projects will be funded in terms of this call, with the maximum amount of R400 000 per project within a period of two years maximum and should not exceed an amount of R200 000 for the first year. Both partners (South African and Mozambican researchers) are advised to take this into consideration when drawing up their own budgets, taking care to minimise as much as possible any discrepancy between the amounts reflected for expenditure in each country.
The joint application for funding must include two principal investigators, one in South Africa and the other in Mozambique. The principal investigators bear the main responsibility for the scientific and financial reporting, as well as the technical and administrative co-ordination of the project.
Funding will be available for two years and successful candidates will be advised accordingly. Principal investigators are expected to submit a final report to their respective funding agencies upon completion of the project.
Application forms for project proposal submission may be obtained from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and from the National Research Fund (FNI) in both countries or downloaded directly from either agency’s website (see contact details below). Proposals must be submitted simultaneously in South Africa and in Mozambique, and include a detailed project description containing methodology and science and technology objectives.
South African applications must be submitted by 23 March 2010 to the email address provided below, i.e., submit an electronic copy to the e-mail address below.
Please attach your scanned signature as well as your partner’s.
Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding. Project selection and funding will only commence once both implementing agencies have completed their administrative processes including review of the proposals.
For further information, please contact:
In South Africa:
National Research Foundation
International Science Cooperation Grants
PO Box 2600
0001 Pretoria
Ms Lee-Anne Seymour
Tel: 012 481 4121
Fax: 012 481 4044 Seymour@nrf.ac.za http://www.nrf.ac.za
In Mozambique:
National Research Fund (FNI)
Av. da Namaacha
Km 11.5
Nr 1163
Matola
Mozambique
Dr Alsácia Atanásio
FNI Executive Director
Tel: +258 21 724500
Fax: +258 21 352860 fni@mct.gov.mz http://portal.mct.gov.mz
[Source: NRF]
African Origins Platform: Call for Infrastructure Project Support 2010 - Framework Document
The National Palaeosciences Equipment Programme (NPEP) is an initiative designed to ensure the establishment of world-class research infrastructure in the National System of Innovation (NSI). It enables researchers to perform cutting edge research, through the development of much needed advanced technology infrastructure. This programme also contributes to the advancement of human capital development and the promotion of national and international research collaboration in the palaeosciences.
The key objectives of this initiative are to:
Support the acquisition or upgrade of state-of-the-art research equipment to enable national research institutions to undertake world class research
Provide infrastructure for human capital and skills development, mainly post-graduate student training and technical staff development
To build human resource capacity and infrastructure capacity in the areas of palaeontology, palaeoanthropology, archaeology, genomics and related disciplines
Make provision for the development of technologically advanced research with far-reaching scientific effects
Assist in creating a long-term planning culture around research equipment
Promote the development of research collaboration through the placement of research equipment,
Support and promote institutional, national and regional research priorities in the palaeosciences
To promote regional, national and international research collaborations in palaeosciences and
To support the creation of new and novel devices for the application of palaeoscience research
Call opens: 24 February 2010 Call closes: 24 March 2010
Expected outcome and grant award notification: By 23 April 2010
Awards will be made in the 2010/11 financial year
South Asian and Sub-Saharan scientists and clinicians working in the areas of clinical epidemiology, population health, clinical trials, health sciences, global health, and areas which impact the health of people in low and middle income countries can be mentored by prominent Canadian researchers via the CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program. For more information on eligibility criteria, available funding, application process and more, please see the flyer and visit the CIHR website, clicking on ‘Find Funding’ and then on ‘Fellowship: CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program (2009-2010)’ under the fellowship newsfeed; or directly at the scholarship page.
Deadline for applications: 31 March 2010.
Call for Nominations for the NRF President’s Awards - 2010
Nominations are requested for the President’s Awards in the following categories:
Transformation of the Science Cohort
Champion of Research Capacity Development at SA HEIs
Lifetime Achiever
(See below for the criteria (eligibility) for nomination)
The NRF’s closing date for nominations is 16 April 2010
All nominations must be submitted by the Designated Authority at your institution
Institutional requirements:
Institutions will be requested to identify no more than one nominee per category.
An appropriate internal nomination and screening process should be employed by the institution
Written motivations substantiated by factual data (not exceeding two A4 pages), as well as the curriculum vitae (CV) of the applicant should be included with each nomination and submitted to the NRF.
For enquiries, please contact Diane Monteiro on email diane@nrf.ac.za or by telephone at 012 481 4033
Applications should be sent to: Diane Monteiro, Professional Officer: Monitoring & Evaluation, National Research Foundation, PO Box 2600, 0001 Pretoria. Street Address: Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria East, 0184
Information about the awards: The National Research Foundation President's Awards primarily recognise South African scientists for their achievements as indicated through the NRF rating system. In addition, to the rating linked awards the mandate of the NRF stipulates that the organisation supports and promotes research in the broadest sense. These special awards provide a platform to honour researchers for career contributions to knowledge creation and dissemination as well as capacity development and transformation in the national research system.
Special awards are made in the following categories annually at the NRF President’s Awards function:
1. *Transforming the Science Cohort
2. *Champion of Research Capacity Development at SA HEIs
3. *Lifetime Achiever
(*nominees in these categories may not necessarily be a researcher rated by the NRF)
Institutions from the National System of Innovation (NSI) may submit a nomination in the categories, ‘Transformation of the Science Cohort’, ‘Champion of Research Capacity Development at SA HEIs’ and ‘Lifetime Achiever’ awards. All nominations must be submitted through the research offices of an NRF recognised research institution.
1. Transformation of the Science Cohort: The Transformation of the Science Cohort award was introduced in 2007. This category honours the challenge of acquiring more black scientists moving towards world class research performance by giving them encouragement and recognition for their efforts. The award is focused on transforming the science cohort to be more representative of the South African demographics.
Criteria (eligibility) for nomination - the nominee for the Transformation of the Science Cohort award must:
be a black South African citizen;
be an active researcher at a South African research institution, in any research field which could qualify for support from the NRF and,
have an impressive research performance record as indicated by the standard research performance indicators and/or judged by peers.
2. Champion of Research Capacity Development at SA HEIs: The Champion of Research Capacity Development at SA HEIs award was introduced in 2009. This category recognises individuals within the research community who contribute to the transformation of South Africa’s community and landscape. The aim of this award is to encourage and promote this activity across the South African research community.
Criteria (eligibility) for nomination - the nominee for the Champion of Research Capacity development at SA HEIs award must:
be a permanent or contracted employee employed at the institution that selects the nominee;
be characterised by his/her peers as an active researcher in any discipline;
be acknowledged to have made, or to be making, a significant contribution to the:
Identification of research talent within designated groups;
The nurturing of this talent and,
Moulding and developing of research excellence;
have achieved this through the respect of everyone in the research institution and,
have a track record of success in achieving transformation for at least the past three years.
3. Lifetime Achiever: The Lifetime Achiever award, introduced in 2004, is awarded to a deserving South African individual who is considered to have made outstanding extraordinary contribution(s) to the development of science in and for South Africa, over an extended period of time. The contributions must be considered to be of international standard and impact.
Criteria (eligibility) for nomination - the selection of the candidate for the Lifetime Achiever award must fulfil the following criteria:
be a South African citizen;
his/her science/innovation-related contribution and/or achievements in and for South Africa must be of international standard and have been recognised internationally;
must have made a contribution in the lives of South Africans, through his/her science/innovation-related work and achievements that can be categorised as being significant, recognisably developmental, beneficial and have made significant impact;
is/has been active and productive in the area of recognition for at least the last ten years and,
need not be associated with a research or higher education institution at the point of being recognised for this award.
[Source: NRF]
NRF/Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Joint S&T Research Collaboration: Call for Project Proposals (2010)
On 27 January 2010, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Fonds Wetenschappellijk Onderzoek (FWO) of Flanders, Belgium, agreed on a joint science and technology (S&T) research agreement. The Working Group (WG) composed of representatives of both the FWO and NRF agreed on fundamental modalities and general arrangements relating to the administration of this call and of the agreement.
Who may apply? Applicants must reside in South Africa and be full-time employed researchers at a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology, national facility or science council. Applications must designate the primary Flemish counterpart in collaboration with whom joint research or networking is to be undertaken. The Principal Investigators (PI) will bear full responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting.
Which activities may I apply for?
• Workshops as part of a collaborative project
• Conference organisation (not attendance) as part of joint research projects
• Symposia organisation
• A maximum of 10% of the budget may be used for consumables
• A purchase of piece of scientific equipment not exceeding 10% of the grant
• International travel, accommodation, subsistence and local travel
Identified research priority areas:
• Biotechnology, nanotechnology and humanities
• Astronomy
• Human-social dynamics
• Global change/environment
• ICT
Funding Modalities: funding will be available for a maximum of three years, starting in FY 2010/2011 for
• Short-term Visits
• Short term visits
• 3-year collaborative research projects
How much should I apply for? A maximum of R1 200 000.00 per joint project (R400 000.00 per year)
All South African applications must be submitted by: 30 April 2010. Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or Flanders, but not both, will not be evaluated or considered for funding.
If you have any queries, please contact: Mr Raven Jimmy, tel 012 481 4069, raven@nrf.ac.za or Mr Siyabongi Kohli, tel 012 481 4356, Siyabonga@nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
South Africa (SA)/Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) Programme – 2010 Call
On 5 October 2005 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs and the CEO of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). The MoU is intended to establish a mutual co-operation between the DST and the JINR with regard to their efforts in scientific and technological research and development in nuclear research. This document spells out the criteria that would apply during the implementation phase of the joint programme.
In consultation with the Russians the following five priority areas for co-operation were identified:
Hadron Therapy
Radioactive ion beams
Neutron beam applications
PBMR technology research
Alice collaboration and theoretical physics
Modalities of co-operation shall include, but not limited to:
Visits of individual scientists, experts and research groups from South Africa to the JINR;
Attendance by individual scientists, experts or research groups from South Africa at
courses offered by the JINR; or
Participation in scientific research undertaken by the JINR by individual scientists, experts or research groups for South Africa.
If you have queries, please contact Mr Raven Jimmy, International Research Grants, The National Research Foundation, tel 012 481 4069, raven@nrf.ac.za
[Source: NRF]
2010 Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship: Call for Applications
"Addressing the Sexual Vulnerability of Young Women in Africa"
July 18th–30th 2010
The Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC) announces the seventh edition of its annual Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship (SLDF) Programme. The two-week course is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria from July 18th- 30th, 2010.
About The Fellowship: The SLDF addresses contemporary issues and emerging best practice in policy and programming for sexual wellbeing. The fellowship is designed to provide participants with:
exposure to cutting-edge conceptual, theoretical and programmatic issues in sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights
better understanding of the interaction between sexuality, development and social justice
development of essential leadership, teamwork, public speaking and advocacy skills to advance the sexual well being of the communities they serve
2010 Fellowship Theme and Structure: The theme for the 2010 fellowship will be - "Addressing the Sexual Vulnerability of Young Women in Africa" Participants on the programme will examine the social, cultural and economic factors that prevent young women from making healthy decisions and contribute to their vulnerability to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes, exposure to HIV, sexual violence and undesired pregnancy. Focus will be on:
identifying strategies to challenge social stigmas that prevent services from meeting the needs of youth
exploring how to bring to scale promising initiatives that address gender and economic inequalities
applying an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health
Fellows will be instructed by a multidisciplinary faculty of experts in the field of sexuality, community leadership and advocacy and public health. The fellowship is structured to promote sharing of ideas, team building and collaborative work amongst participants in order to nurture relationships that last beyond the fellowship period.
Audience: This course is designed for young professionals in public service, civil society activists, programme officers/ managers in social development organizations or media practitioners. Applicants should be aged 35 years or below. Minimum educational qualification should be a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent and demonstrable experience/interest in the area of sexuality, sexual health and rights.
Tuition/Course Fee: Tuition for the two-week course is US$2 500 (this covers administrative and instructional costs, text materials, supplies, field trips, health Insurance and group lunch on training days. The fee does not cover round-trip travel to Lagos, visa fees, accommodation or living expenses. The ARSRC offers a limited number of highly competitive scholarships on a cost-sharing basis. This scholarship covers tuition, accommodation and living costs while airfare and transport expenses are the responsibility of the selected awardees.
Scientific training opportunities at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) in Munich
LMU PhD-Program in International Health opportunities: The Center for International Health (CIHLMU) at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) in Munich will open applications for the PhD-Program in International Health starting in
autumn 2010. Interested candidates from around the world will be able to apply; preference would be given to students coming from existing partnerships.
The three-year program will be specific for health professionals who will be able to choose from a wide range of disciplines and supervisors available in the fields of basic sciences, clinical research, epidemiology and public health, health economics, health system research, and health governance.
Applications will be directed exclusively through our Online-Application-Tool, application period for the first term starting in October 2010 will be from 3 February to 9 May 2010. Online-Applications have to be initiated through an Online-Registration.
For selected candidates from Low-Income-Countries they will be able to offer 10 CIHLMU-PhD-Scholarships each year, covering transport and subsistence-costs over three years. Applications can be submitted as part of the Online-Registration- and Application-Form.
For more information about the programme and scholarship, please refer to the PhD Program Information [PhD-Program-Information.pdf] and the CIHLMU website at www.cih.lmu.de.
[Source: EDCTP]
EDCTP call for proposals: Senior fellowships; Strengthening National Ethics Committees or Institutional Review Boards
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) welcomes project proposals as a response to the following calls:
Senior Fellowships
Available funds: €1 200 000
Number of projects to fund: 6 projects
Open to application: 22 February 2010 Deadline for applications: 28 June 2010
Senior Fellowships linked to regional networks of excellence (NoEs)
Available funds: €800 000
Number of projects to fund: 4 projects
Open to application: 22 February 2010 Deadline for applications: 28 June 2010
Purpose of the grant: Through these calls, EDCTP intends to identify and support senior researchers capable of building and leading research groups at Sub-Saharan African institutions that will be internationally competitive and capable of winning grants from international funding bodies. This grant is both available for researchers already working in Africa as well as those looking to return to the continent (re-entry grant). For the Senior Fellowship NoE call, EDCTP specifically targets to contribute towards building of sustainable capacity through training and networking with linkage to the EDCTP supported regional networks of excellence in sub-Saharan Africa.
Establishment and Strengthening of African National Ethics Committees (NECs) or Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
Available funds: €750 000
Number of projects to fund: 15 projects
Open to application: 22 February 2010 Deadline for applications: 28 June 2010
Purpose of the grant: EDCTP wishes to promote the establishment and strengthening of National Ethics Committees (NEC) and Institutional Review Boards (IRB) that are competent and independent. The NECs and the IRBs are encouraged to establish themselves administratively and financially so as to ensure sustained optimal function beyond the EDCTP funding. Strengthening of NEC or IRB aims at making them operational and gives support to their ongoing functions. Networking and training is encouraged and supported. Additional support in the form of online literature access, documentation, access to websites on ethics and GCP will be facilitated.
First Annual US Conference on African Immigrant Health - USCAIH 2010
The Alliance for Health in the African Diaspora, Inc.(AHADI) cordially invites your office and community to the ground-breaking first time event: The US Conference on African Immigrant Health (USCAIH 2010) will take place in Atlanta, GA on April 7th–11th 2010.
The first of its kind, the USCAIH 2010 will encompass the following elements that are considered critical in addressing health disparities in the African Diaspora: health disparities reduction; policy change; existing national connections, partners, collaborators; existing relationships for governments and institutions; community networking and outreach; cultural needs, beliefs, and practices; grassroots focus; and the impact of war, torture and trauma.
We are delighted to invite you to be part of this ground-breaking United States Conference on African Immigrant Health (USCAIH). This national conference is scheduled for April 7th - 11th 2010, at the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel & Conference Center, in Atlanta, GA. The USCAIH 2010 will bring together members of the community, health scientists, public health workers, advocates and providers, as well as community organizers to chart a purposeful course for addressing health prevention, education, care, and treatment among the growing African immigrant communities and other populations in the United States.
Speakers include Dr Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, as the key note speaker at the Conference. Dr Graham serves as the Executive Director of the HHS Council on Health Disparities.
Please visit the web links below for more information:
Kindly distribute this information amongst your network. Contact: hdanesi@afhadi.org
[Source: AFRO-NETS]
4th Global Summit on HIV/AIDS, Traditional Medicine & Indigenous Knowledge
Africa First, LLC of Minnesota, in association with and support of the Ghana Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Tourism, Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, European Herbal & Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Medical Association, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 100 Black Men of America, Inc., Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, Franklin Pierce Law Center, New Hampshire, USA, National Students Medical Association, Washington DC USA, Associations of Indigenous Healers from Africa and the Globe, and many local and international stakeholders, will host the 4th Global Summit on HIV/AIDS, Traditional Medicine & Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana from August 2, 2010 to August 5, 2010.
The event will coincide with the year 2010 Emancipation Day celebration.
The objectives of the conference, among others, are as follows:
To review the level of progress national governments have made in empowering traditional medicine practitioners to provide safe, effective and quality products and practices as an integral part of their primary healthcare systems after nearly two decades when the World Health Organization gave its recognition to the potentials of traditional medicine and encouraged member nations to promote and support its usage, and after several international meetings and commitments made by member nations to develop traditional medicine as part of their healthcare systems.
To search and identify for further research and development, both documented and undocumented traditional/alternative medicines and healing practices, which are efficacious, safe and affordable, for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, cancer, sickle cell, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and mental disorders, etc.
To develop and recommend to national governments drafts of international, regional and municipal intellectual property, copyright and patent laws on traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge forms suitable to the specific needs of individual nations to ensure protection for the rights of underserved people to biodiversity, discoveries in medicinal therapies and scientific innovations towards economic and social advancement.
All details about this event, especially how to send in abstracts/presentations, volunteer, donate supplies to local hospitals and participate in the conference and its pre/post group activities are to be found at: http://www.africa-first.com/4thglobalsummit/default.asp
[Source: AFRO-NETS]
African leaders approve new agency to replace NEPAD Secretariat
14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union approves the integration of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) into the structures and processes of the African Union including the establishment of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA)
ADDIS ABABA, 1st February 2010 – African leaders meeting at the 14th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, today approved the establishment of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) as a technical body of the AU in replacement of the NEPAD Secretariat.
The NPCA is mandated to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of continental and regional priority programmes and projects and to mobilise resources and partners in support of their implementation.
In addition, the African Heads of State and Government in attendance at the AU Assembly have directed the NPCA to conduct and coordinate research and knowledge management, monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and advocate on the AU and NEPAD vision, mission and core values.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) exercises supervisory authority over the NPCA, whilst giving the new Agency adequate and necessary flexibilities to carry out its mandate and thereby maintaining the corporate brand identity of the NEPAD Programme within the AU.
The leaders also directed that the NPCA activities be financed through an established budget from the statutory sources of the AUC, voluntary contributions from AU member states and additional budgetary support from development partners and the private sector.
For more information and interview requests, please contact: Andrew Kanyegirire: +27 (0) 83 704 4506 andrewk@nepad.org
[Source: NEPAD Secretariat]
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)
